Regulating the globalised economy - Articulating private voluntary standards and public regulations

How can the social and environmental impact of economic globalisation be reduced? Faced with the deadlock of inter-State negotiations aimed at implementing collective action, private actors – multinational companies and NGOs – are developing standards of “good” social and environmental practice, such as forest certification or standards regarding working conditions.
Some people believe that the proliferation of these voluntary standards reflects the privatisation of sustainable development policy. Yet private standards and public regulations are often complementary and work in synergy; synergies that must be consolidated.

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Regulating the globalised economy - Articulating private voluntary standards and public regulations
Marcel Djama
Perspective No. 11
CIRAD 2011

Perspective sets out to suggest new lines of debate and action, backed up by research work, but does not claim to express CIRAD's official position on the topics covered.
This series of 4-page summaries presents novel ideas or policies on development issues of strategic importance for countries in the South: food security, land tenure, climate change, energy security, forest management, standards, etc.

Perspective is intended for decision-makers (public, private, associations, etc), but also for communicators–journalists, teachers, etc–and anyone capable of taking on board simply formulated ideas. It is published in English and French.