Japan Society for the Promotion of Science:Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research
Date (from‐to) : 2004 -2007
Author : IKEGAMI Koichi; ONO Seiichiro; YAMAO Masahiro; ENOKI Akinori; MAEGATA Mitsuhiro; TSURUTA Tadasu
This study aims at examining the potential of expanding Alternative Trade (AT) and the roles and the responsibilities of consumers in the AT. AT means another trade model, not based on the conventional production mode and trade such as GATT/WTO. This study has carried out the investigations from the four aspects. First one is the impacts of the change in the structure of international trade under the WTO regime on the developing countries. Second is to clarify the forms of AT and the effects of respective form. The third is the questionnaire survey regarding Fair Trade (FT), a form of AT, and consumers' buying behavior, in Japan, France and Taiwan so as to compare the concept of consumers' responsibility. This survey is the first one in the world. The fourth is the theoretical consideration about economic meaning of FT.
What this study has made clear are as follows. (1) North-South problem has changed drastically in quality. Accordingly, it is the time to build another trade system of agricultural and fishery products, not depending on market mechanism. (2) Although consumers play an important role in doing this, it is necessary for consumers in Japan to know more about consumers responsible buying. Even in Taiwan, those who know the concept of FT are growing. The FT market in East Asia, which is smaller than other regions, can expand its scale now. (3) FT is also taking root in the Republic of South Africa, which holds the problem of dual structure of economy. The feature of FT in South Africa is that big farms are promoting FT and its beneficiaries are agricultural hired workers, while the target of typical FT is small producers. (4) The cooperative sector is expected to play an important role in FT. It is necessary to analyze conditions for realizing such an expectation. (5) AT can be explained by the economics of internal organization, and from this standpoint, the economic significance of AT lies in transferring the risks of marginalized producers to the chain of distribution and consumption, and in stabilizing their utility.