Cost of Globalization Case Study
Many people are unaware of the significant impact globalization has on the developing world. Western society's demand for lower prices trickles down the supply chain and can significantly impact the people in the countries that provide products like coffee and bananas. This assignment encourages students to explore the reality of the impact of globalization on the developing world looking at the context of very specific products, before encouraging students actions that could be taken to reconcile the issues.
The following items are identified by Fair Trade Canada as products which have supply chains that create significant inequality for the producers in the developing world. Students, working in pairs or groups, can select or be assigned one of these topics to research and present to the class for this assignment.
For the assignment, students are expected to complete three components:
For the research component of the assignment, students will explore their assigned topic with particular emphasis on the inequality in the supply chain. They should explore the impact of this inequality on the producing countries.
After research is complete, students should research and brainstorm about different ways the problem should be addressed. Is it up to the governments? The producers? The people who sell it? Or the people who buy the products to address the inequality?
Finally, students should create a presentation about their topic, to share their findings with the class, as well as their suggestion for a solution to the problem. This presentation should be as engaging as possible, so encourage students to use media, music, video clips, and activities in their presentation.
The following items are identified by Fair Trade Canada as products which have supply chains that create significant inequality for the producers in the developing world. Students, working in pairs or groups, can select or be assigned one of these topics to research and present to the class for this assignment.
- Cocoa
- Coffee
- Cotton
- Flowers
- Bannans
- Oranges
- Grapes
- Gold
- Rice
- Quinoa)
- Spices and Herbs
- Nuts and Oils (Shea Butter and Olive Oil)
- Sports Balls
- Sugar
- Tea
- Wine
For the assignment, students are expected to complete three components:
- Research
- Develop a solution
- Create a presentation for the class
For the research component of the assignment, students will explore their assigned topic with particular emphasis on the inequality in the supply chain. They should explore the impact of this inequality on the producing countries.
After research is complete, students should research and brainstorm about different ways the problem should be addressed. Is it up to the governments? The producers? The people who sell it? Or the people who buy the products to address the inequality?
Finally, students should create a presentation about their topic, to share their findings with the class, as well as their suggestion for a solution to the problem. This presentation should be as engaging as possible, so encourage students to use media, music, video clips, and activities in their presentation.