Chapter 23, Maya Article and Cobalt Miners Article

 Chapter 23 of the textbook introduced three ways the Gini coefficient or inequality, could be measured in society. It demonstrates that the poorest people often have the least amount of financial quality and that wealth is held in the hands of the few. The hardship the economically poor face was shown through the other 2 articles; “The Cobalt Pipeline” and the “Maya Coffee Farmers.” A commonality both these people had was a want to educate their children. Due to fair trade and the cooperative, the Mayan coffee farmers had greater access to education with over 40% of families sending at least one child to secondary ed. However, the Cobalt Miners undermine their collective wealth by acting as artisan miners and working as separate groups rather than together. Due to this, they did not have access to education. As the Mayan article showed, Fair Trade does have disadvantages, such as debt created by the need for loans, but the guaranteed income benefits the producers in the long run. If Cobalt Miners could collaborate and join together as a producer market they could set a minimum price for Cobalt, as it is such a relied upon mineral at this time. The dysfunction and competition spurred by poverty in this area has done the producers a disservice.