Peer2Politics

For much of its short-lived existence, “ethical consumption”—the idea that we can do good and mitigate some of the worst excesses of globalization simply by shopping differently—has enjoyed its share of controversy. Some claim that it does nothing to address structural problems of the global economy, leaving the global supply chains as they are. Others argue that ethical consumption might give some citizens the license to behave even less virtuously when faced with other decisions: After all, they feel they've purchased their indulgences. Others fear that the extra profits generated via ethical consumption won't go to the people they intend to benefit but will instead be channeled into advertising budgets for ethical-consumption campaigns themselves.