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Chapter Analysis
Beginner12 pages • EnglishQuick Summary
The chapter 'A Shirt in the Market' explores the journey of a shirt from its beginnings as cotton in a field to its final availability in a market, highlighting the chain of markets that connect producers and consumers. It delves into the economic inequalities present in this market chain, focusing on how different players, like farmers, weavers, and traders, are affected and how their profits differ. The chapter also discusses systems like the 'putting-out' system and cooperatives as methods for the underprivileged to earn a fair income.
Key Topics
- •Market chains and economic inequality
- •The putting-out system
- •Weaver cooperatives
- •Role of foreign buyers
- •Impact of economic systems on different stakeholders
- •Market dependency and survival strategies
Learning Objectives
- ✓Understand the journey of goods through various market chains.
- ✓Analyze economic inequalities in market operations.
- ✓Identify the challenges and benefits of the putting-out system.
- ✓Evaluate the role of cooperatives in improving livelihoods.
- ✓Discuss the influence of foreign markets on local production.
- ✓Explore solutions to minimize exploitation in trade systems.
Questions in Chapter
What made Swapna sell the cotton to the trader instead of selling at the Kurnool cotton market?
Answer: Swapna sold the cotton to the trader because she had taken a loan from him with an agreement to sell her cotton produce to him.
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Describe the conditions of employment as well as the wages of workers in the garment exporting factory. Do you think the workers get a fair deal?
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Think of something common that we use. It could be sugar, tea, milk, pen, paper, pencil, etc. Discuss through what chain of markets this reaches you. Can you think of the people that help in the production or trade?
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Arrange the statements given alongside in the correct order and then fill in the numbers in the cotton bolls accordingly.
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Additional Practice Questions
Explain the 'putting-out system' and its impact on weavers.
mediumAnswer: The 'putting-out system' is a method where merchants provide raw materials and orders for production, and weavers make the finished product at home. This system impacts weavers by making them dependent on merchants for both raw materials and sales, often resulting in them receiving low wages for their work.
What are the benefits and drawbacks of weaver cooperatives?
mediumAnswer: Weaver cooperatives allow weavers to purchase raw materials collectively and market their goods as a group, reducing reliance on merchants and enabling better earnings. However, challenges include organizational logistics and initial setup efforts.
Discuss how market inequalities affect different stakeholders in the shirt-making process.
hardAnswer: Market inequalities mean that different stakeholders like farmers, weavers, and workers often earn less while traders, exporters, and business owners gain substantial profits. This is due to the differences in power and resources among these groups.
Analyze the role of foreign buyers in the garment export industry. How does it affect local workers?
hardAnswer: Foreign buyers often set stringent quality and delivery standards at low prices, which exerts pressure on exporters to cut costs, leading to poor wages and conditions for local workers. This system benefits the buyers and exporters more than the workers.
How can forming cooperatives help mitigate exploitation in markets?
mediumAnswer: Cooperatives can empower workers and producers by improving their bargaining power, providing fair trade opportunities, and offering financial and marketing support to reduce reliance on merchants and mitigate exploitation.