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Disentangling the Effects of Fair Trade on the Quality of Malian Cotton

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  • Gaëlle BALINEAU

    (Agence française de développement (AFD))

Abstract

The increasing importance of premium segments and the proliferation of private labels and certification schemes raise skepticism about the ability of Fair Trade (FT) to help smallholders compete in high value-added markets. Based on a panel dataset collected in Mali in 2008, this paper contributes to the debate by estimating the impact of FT on the quality of Malian cotton. Controlling forselection bias and for a potential increase in quality prior to FT certification, results show a significant impact of FT on the quality of cotton produced by both certified and geographically close non-certified growers via spillover effects.

Suggested Citation

  • Gaëlle BALINEAU, 2012. "Disentangling the Effects of Fair Trade on the Quality of Malian Cotton," Working Papers P39, FERDI.
    • Handle: RePEc:fdi:wpaper:545
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    2. Chabé-Ferret, Sylvain, 2015. "Analysis of the bias of Matching and Difference-in-Difference under alternative earnings and selection processes," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 185(1), pages 110-123.
    3. Nicholas Minot & Loraine Ronchi, 2014. "Contract Farming," World Bank Publications - Reports 24249, The World Bank Group.
    4. Jaime DE MELO & Marcelo OLARREAGA, 2017. "Trade Related Institutions and Development," Working Papers P199, FERDI.
    5. Auriol, Emmanuelle & Schilizzi, Steven G.M., 2015. "Quality signaling through certification in developing countries," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 116(C), pages 105-121.
    6. Joël Cariolle & David A Carroll, 2020. "Advancing digital frontiers in African economies: lessons learned from firm-level innovations," Working Papers hal-03118738, HAL.
    7. Bellemare, Marc F. & Bloem, Jeffrey R., 2018. "Does contract farming improve welfare? A review," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 259-271.
    8. Florence TOUYA, 2019. "Relationships and Nature of Contracts in the Distribution Structure for Responsible Trade," Working Papers 2018-2019_10, CATT - UPPA - Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour, revised Oct 2019.
    9. Maja Tampe, 2018. "Leveraging the Vertical: The Contested Dynamics of Sustainability Standards and Labour in Global Production Networks," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 56(1), pages 43-74, March.
    10. Florence Lachet-Touya, 2019. "Relationships and nature of contracts in the distribution structure for responsible trade," Working Papers hal-02937865, HAL.
    11. Florence TOUYA, 2019. "Relevance of Potential Supply Structures in Frameworks involving Consumer's private Information: the Case of Fair Trade," Working Papers 2018-2019_12, CATT - UPPA - Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour, revised Aug 2019.
    12. Staricco, Juan Ignacio, 2017. "Transforming or Reproducing Conventional Socioeconomic Relations? Introducing a Regulationist Framework for the Assessment of Fairtrade," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 206-218.
    13. Florence Lachet-Touya, 2019. "Relevance of potential supply structures in frameworks involving consumer's private information: the case of fair trade," Working Papers hal-02937902, HAL.
    14. Gian Nicola Francesconi & Fleur Wouterse, 2022. "The potential of land shareholding cooperatives for inclusive agribusiness development in Africa," Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 93(1), pages 161-176, March.

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    JEL classification:

    • P45 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Other Economic Systems - - - International Linkages
    • O13 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Agriculture; Natural Resources; Environment; Other Primary Products
    • O24 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Development Planning and Policy - - - Trade Policy; Factor Movement; Foreign Exchange Policy
    • J54 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor-Management Relations, Trade Unions, and Collective Bargaining - - - Producer Cooperatives; Labor Managed Firms

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