Commodity Chain Research
Paper
Sociological Research
Commodity Chains

The global economy today is a network of
commodity exchanges that connect
producers and consumers around the world

Each commodity in this global economy can
be traced from production to consumption

Not all products we consume have global origins,
but the trend is a powerful one
Commodity Chain Analysis

Examines the hidden social, cultural, and
environmental relationships behind the commodities
we consume

Allows us to better understand globalization and a
global economy by tracing one commodity

When you wear, eat, or use a final product in a
commodity chain, you participate in a global process
The Story of Stuff

Who are the people that have the most say in how
this system - the materials economy - runs?


Who are the people that work in the different parts
of this system?

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Who has the least say in how the system runs?
What do you think determines where a person will be in this
system?
Where are you in this system?

What options do you have, from where you sit, to change
the system?
Your Commodity Chain Analysis

This assignment asks you to do some detective
work to investigate the sources of the products you
consume.

You’ll be asked to choose a specific product and
trace it from source to consumption. This type of
project is called “commodity chain analysis,” since it
starts with a product (a commodity) and uncovers
the chain of events, people, and materials that
produced it.
Stages of a Commodity Chain

When researching your commodity the stages of the
commodity chain to focus on are (note: some
commodities will :
 Design and technology
 Raw inputs and parts
 Manufacturing/Production
 Sales, distribution
 Marketing
Example: The iPod

When looking at each stage of the iPod commodity
chain consider:

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

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Design and technology – who made it, where, what are
the wages/labor conditions, who owns the technology
(patent)?
Raw inputs and parts – what is needed to make the iPod
– metal, plastic, how many separate parts?
Manufacturing/Production – who assembles the iPod,
where, what are the wages/labor conditions?
Sales, distribution – how does the iPod get to the stores it
is sold in, who sells the product, who buys it?
Marketing – how is the iPod marketed, to whom is it
marketed, how much are those in the advertisements paid?
Analysis of the Commodity Chain

For the analysis of your commodity chain you
need to consider the following relationships
behind your product


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social (who makes the products, what are the
labor conditions like, etc.)
cultural (does this product have significant
cultural meaning in the societies that consume it)
environmental (how does the making and
consuming of this product affect the environment)
How do I research this paper?

With the Gavilan Library online databases
located at: https://www.gavilan.edu/library/

If you do not have a Gavilan Library card
already you need to get one ASAP. You can
get one online, but it may take a few weeks to
arrive in the mail. You can get one the same
day by going to library in person.
EBSCO Host

The EBSCOhost database available through
the Gavilan Library website will provide you
with a wealth of information

If you are unfamiliar with EBSCOhost please
view the following tutorial on techniques for
searching in this database:

http://www.more.net/training/handouts/feb2008/eb
scohostfeaturecard-070216.pdf
What sources can I use?

You want to look for information (evidence) in
several sources:

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
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Peer reviewed journals (at least two of these sources are
required)
Newspaper, magazines, and trade journals
Websites (make sure they are reliable and provide
accurate information)
Interviews
Books
You cannot use:


Wikipedia
Encyclopedias
What bibliographic formatting do I use?

You want to use APA style formatting



http://www.gavilan.edu/library/documents/APA_print_92808
.pdf
http://www.gavilan.edu/library/documents/APA_internet_92
808.pdf
Your sources need to be annotated, which means
you provide a 1 paragraph summary of the main
points of the article/book

http://www.lesley.edu/library/guides/citation/APAanno.pdf
Due Dates: Monday/Wednesday Class

February 23rd - CCA Research Prospetus (10 points)

March 21st - Outline of research paper and annotated
bibliography(50 points)

April 18th - Rough Draft of research paper (40 points)

May 16th – Final research paper (100 points)

May 18th - Class presentation begin (100 points)
Due Dates: Tuesday/Thursday Class

February 24th - CCA Research Prospetus (10 points)

March 22nd - Outline of research paper and annotated
bibliography(50 points)

April 19th - Rough Draft of research paper (40 points)

May 17th – Final research paper (100 points)

May 19th - Class presentation begin (100 points)
Want to see some examples?

You can review examples of A student commodity
chains on the Commodity Chain Analysis Website
below:

http://hhh.gavilan.edu/rkreider/CCATermPaper.htm

On this website you can find more information about
researching and writing this paper.

As usual, be sure to ask me if you have any
questions!
Your are going to turn your
papers in at Turnitin.com
Questions for Black Gold

Try to identify the hidden
social relationships
behind the coffee
commodity chain:
 Design and technology
 Raw inputs and parts
 Manufacturing/
Production
 Sales, distribution
 Marketing

Whose responsibility is
it to ensure that coffee
growers are paid
enough to take care of
the basic needs of their
families?

What do you think is
the best way to help
Ethiopian coffee
farmers?