Fairtrade credentialism: towards understanding certified producer organizations' perceptions of Fairtrade as a credential. Issue 1 (2nd January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mook, Anne; Overdevest, Christine
• Is Part Of: Globalizations. Volume 17:Issue 1(2020)
• Page Start: 110
• Page End: 125
• Publication Date: 2020-01-02
• Subjects: Fairtrade -- sustainable development -- private certification -- credentialism -- social and economic mobility -- environmental governance; Globalization -- Periodicals; 327.17
• DOI: 10.1080/14747731.2019.1638113
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1474-7731

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Fairtrade is a transnational voluntary labelling initiative that aims to upgrade the social, economic, and environmental conditions of producers in developing countries. In this paper, we systematically translated, coded, and analysed open-ended responses from a global survey of Fairtrade producers to explore how Fairtrade operates as a credential. The credentialism literature sheds light on Fairtrade's ability to create social and economic mobility, the operation of positive and negative selection processes and the hidden curriculum. We conclude with research and policy recommendations, including the need for the research community and Fairtrade International to track and monitor initial conditions of Fairtrade producers and measure progress over time to improve understanding of how Fairtrade operates as a credential and structures the social and economic mobility of developing country producers.