[PEN-L:4569] economic effects of export of used clothing to LDC's

[Rick.Wicks@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Rick Wicks)]

        Hi, I'm  new to the list, from Alaska, working on a PhD in econom=
ics
at G=F6teborg University here in Sweden (my wife is Swedish).
        I'm working on a study of the economic effects of the charitable
export of donated used clothing (and sometimes other goods, such as used
medical or agricultural equipment) to developing countries, and whether i=
t
merits having freight and related costs subsidized.
        Our primary concern at this point is with disincentive effects on=

local producers (similar to food aid), and whether or not these are
outweighed by income, distribution, growth, environmental, or other benef=
its.
        We're also interested in ALL flows of such goods (commercial as w=
ell
as charitable), where they come from and go to (we'll probably get this, =
at
least for used clothing, from UN trade data), quality and subsequent
maintenance of the goods, how they're distributed and priced, etc.
        Then we want to know how valuable donated and subsidized goods
actually are to the receivers, to evaluate whether this is an efficient u=
se
of aid resources. What are the effects on local supply, on employment and=

income distribution, on growth and production structure, on the environme=
nt,
whatever.
        This is a literature study, not a field study, and there isn't mu=
ch
literature, which is why I'm seeking suggestions. We have economist Steve=
n
Haggblade's excellent article dealing with Rwanda (April '90 J.Dev.Studie=
s)
and anthropologist Karen Hansen's interesting article dealing with Zambia=

(June '94 Public Culture).
        We would very much like any other references to literature or
relevant data, suggestions of relevant organizations that might have
research or strong opinions, as well as YOUR considered opinion.
        To state them simply, my own preconceptions at this point (early =
in
the study) are that recycling used clothing from anywhere in the world to=

anywhere where there's effective demand (sufficient to pay the necessary
costs) must be a good thing, but that subsidizing such exports and
attempting to target the clothing for project purposes with "the poorest =
of
the poor" is likely to be inefficient.
        Thanks for any useful response!