Exploring the power to change: Fair trade, development and handicraft production in Bangadesh

This thesis applies concepts from development practice to uncover the varied meanings, institutional practices and outcomes of Fair Trade Organizations (FTOs). The study employed quantitative and qualitative methodologies, comparing Fair Trade producers to other similar women not involved in Fair Trade, as well as analysing the outcomes of different Fair Trade producer groups. Fair Trade has a positive impact on both chronic and transitory poverty because of the fair wage/price and the pro-poor policies and benefits provided by the FTOs in the study. The social wellbeing of many producers is increased due to the new experiences provided through Fair Trade employment, such as being a member of a group, the opportunity to travel, meet new people, and learn new skills. Fair Trade handicraft employment also has an impact on promoting rural-urban linkages, supporting other economic strategies of the household, and providing additional social networks. However, such advantages of Fair Trade are not enough to move people out of poverty, or to overcome the many vulnerabilities experienced by poor people in Bangladesh. The impact of Fair Trade is related to national and local context: thus, improvements in outcomes need to consider the particular social, physical and institutional arrangements within which Fair Trade functions. Findings from the study have relevance to the theorizing of Fair Trade with policy implications for FTOs., and provide insights into debates within development such as the role of social capital in economic relations, multiple aspects of poverty, and the empowerment potential of paid work for women.