Healthy Skepticism Library item: 9854

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: Journal Article

Light DW.
Globalizing Restricted and Segmented Markets: Challenges to Theory and Values in Economic Sociology
The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science 2007 Mar; 610:(1):232=245
http://ann.sagepub.com/cgi/reprint/610/1/232

Abstract:

Studies of globalization and immigration will benefit by taking into account the relationship between goals, means, and outcomes. In this article, the author introduces the term pernicious competition as an alternative to the better known concept of market failure to more accurately describe what happens when vital human needs are not efficiently met as a result of global competition. The extended protections of intellectual property in new free trade agreements are an example of market segmentation being used to raise the prices of and reduce access to vital drugs for treating patients with HIV-AIDS. Vital public goods and services should be made distinct from technical public goods so that the dangers of pernicious competition in markets that benefit dominant suppliers or buyers can be identified and the concept of a moral economy can be developed.

Keywords:
economic sociology • globalization • public goods • markets • market ethics • HIV-AIDS • CAFTA

Notes:

Free full text (.pdf)