'Free Marketeers' Strike Back at Oxfam?
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24125925-5005961,00.html
Desperately short on substantive facts, nonetheless this 'free market think tank' has filed a complaint in Australia over unfair 'fair trade' and says 'fair trade' does not lift people out of poverty. A complaint- against Oxfam, claiming false advertising. I have no inside information about Oxfam, although I believe there is an inherent risk of stagnation if mere basic standards of 'fair trade' are the goal. Part of 'fair trade' should include a plan for upward bias or growth to stimulate product development and positively affect those making product. Otherwise, the charge that 'fair trade' exploits the poor more than helps them will always have some weight, and there are many examples that could support this argument. As well, there are examples of progressive companies with an upward bias on wages that at least have things moving in the right direction.
Desperately short on substantive facts, nonetheless this 'free market think tank' has filed a complaint in Australia over unfair 'fair trade' and says 'fair trade' does not lift people out of poverty. A complaint- against Oxfam, claiming false advertising. I have no inside information about Oxfam, although I believe there is an inherent risk of stagnation if mere basic standards of 'fair trade' are the goal. Part of 'fair trade' should include a plan for upward bias or growth to stimulate product development and positively affect those making product. Otherwise, the charge that 'fair trade' exploits the poor more than helps them will always have some weight, and there are many examples that could support this argument. As well, there are examples of progressive companies with an upward bias on wages that at least have things moving in the right direction.
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