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Actioning the Global Goals for Local Impact pp 117–133Cite as

SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth

A Decent Day’s Pay for a Decent Day’s Work – Lessons to Be Learnt from Fair Trade Small Producers’ Experiences in Global Markets

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Part of the book series: Science for Sustainable Societies ((SFSS))

Abstract

This chapter focuses on the Sustainable Development Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth. The theoretical framework from evolutionary economics is reviewed and used to facilitate the understanding of developing countries’ economic aspects. The relations to sustainable development actions are addressed through case studies centred on fair trade initiatives – a market solution that links developed and developing economies through production and trade relations based on good market practices. In a model that seeks to address inequalities generated by conventional trade, the fair trade standard assures stable prices and income together with decent work conditions for small producers from developing economies. The methodological approach of this qualitative study was a literature review associated with a comparative analysis of case studies published about fair trade certified small-scale producers. Small rice farmers from Thailand and small quinoa farmers from Bolivia are presented to illustrate the potential to produce social benefits within a sustainable development framework proposed by the fair trade model. Drawing from both case studies, the chapter ends with recommendations for multilateral trade agreements and policies design regarding agriculture development.

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Acknowledgements

I acknowledge the Australian Government for the research training program scholarship provided and my supervisors at the University of Tasmania, Dr. Fred Gale and Dr. Hannah Murphy-Gregory.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Politics and International Relations Program, School of Social Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia

    Ana Cristina Ribeiro-Duthie

Authors
  1. Ana Cristina Ribeiro-Duthie
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Correspondence to Ana Cristina Ribeiro-Duthie .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability, United Nations University Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Japan

    Isabel B. Franco

  2. Xavier School of Human Settlements, Xavier University Bhubaneswar, Kakudia, Odisha, India

    Tathagata Chatterji

  3. Faculty of Business, Economics and Law, Business School, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia

    Ellen Derbyshire

  4. School of Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    James Tracey

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Ribeiro-Duthie, A.C. (2020). SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth. In: Franco, I., Chatterji, T., Derbyshire, E., Tracey, J. (eds) Actioning the Global Goals for Local Impact. Science for Sustainable Societies. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-32-9927-6_9

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