> [!NOTE]+ Meta > Author:: [[Simon Ellis]] > Reference:: Ellis, S. (2015). [_Measuring Traditional Skills Taking Stock of What We Have Before We Lose It Craft Statistics A Way Forward_.](https://static1.squarespace.com/static/52669d1fe4b05199f0587707/t/55240c31e4b031e90a8dd1b7/1428425777958/MEASURING+TRADITIONAL+SKILLS.pdf) Aspen Alliance for Enterprise. > Date:: 2015 > Tags:: #warp > WeftLinks:: [[Environmental value of craft]] [[Cultural value of craft]] [[Social value of craft]] [[Economic value of craft]] [[Equity value of craft]] > Claim:: [[Claim - Craft makes an important contribution to the economy]] [[Claim - Craft alleviates poverty]] > [!SUMMARY] Summary > The paper provides several specific pieces of evidence to support the value of craft, drawing from economic, cultural, and social perspectives. ### Highlights **Economic Value:** - **Market Demand**: The paper states that there is an increasing demand for craft products in OECD countries. This is supported by the observation that globalisation and the internet have facilitated the import of handmade village products from less developed countries into major global retail outlets. - **Direct Economic Impact**: Purchases of craft products are said to directly benefit some of the least developed communities in the world. Earnings of craftspeople can be up to four times higher than those of similar members of their local communities. Craft production is also seen as a way out of poverty, creating self-sustaining local growth. - **Competitive Advantage**: The paper argues that traditional craft production gives countries a unique competitive edge because it involves highly skilled artisans, top-quality raw materials and unique designs. These skills and designs are passed down over generations and are uniquely associated with a country's culture. These cannot be copied and are immediately recognisable as belonging to that culture. This is a particular advantage for countries that cannot compete based on cost. - **Export Potential**: Craft can contribute to international competitiveness. Export data shows the extent to which developing countries are reaching the international market. Import statistics in OECD countries indicate domestic demand for craft. **For example, the paper notes that in 2013, total annual jewellery imports into the USA were valued at over $8.2 billion, with China, India, and Thailand making up 54% of these imports**. A more detailed look at Indonesian trade data for 2013 shows that their exports were 46% non-silver precious metal jewellery, 43% silver jewellery, and 10% plated jewellery, suggesting that much of this is high-end, hand-crafted work. - **Employment Data**: The paper uses data from Jordan to illustrate the employment potential of the craft sector, stating that there were approximately 20,500 professional craft workers in the country in 2013. ### **Cultural Value:** - **Cultural Reflection**: The paper posits that craft reflects the cultural and social milieu within which it is created, strengthening cultural identities and empowering minorities and women. It is also seen as a means of cultural expression. - **Loss of Heritage**: It is argued that countries that allow their traditional crafts to die risk sacrificing a major element of local development potential and future international competitiveness, and artistic inspiration. - **Cultural Significance of Music**: The production of traditional musical instruments reflects the vitality of traditional music in a country and is a significant cultural output. ### **Social Value**: - **Empowerment**: Craft purchases empower artisans, especially women, in their local communities. Craft production is a means to empower disadvantaged communities. - **Direct Aid**: The paper emphasises that when a consumer buys a craft product, the money goes directly to the artisan, encouraging their business and bypassing complex state or charity administrations. - **Community Development**: Craft production helps to create self-sustaining local growth. - **Social Capital**: The paper highlights that craftspeople tend to work on their own and rely on social and professional networks for inspiration and marketing. **Statistical Evidence**: - **National Statistics**: The paper highlights that data on craft exists in every National Statistics Office (NSO) worldwide, although it notes that the statisticians may not fully understand craft activities, and craft specialists may not know what statistics to ask for. This data is usually collected through national Labour Force Surveys (LFS), which often follow standard international methodologies. - **Trade Data**: The paper indicates that international trade data, organised under systems like the Harmonised Commodity Description and Coding System (HS), has codes that relate to craft articles. This data provides two measures: the weight of items traded in kg and the value in US dollars. - **Survey Data**: The paper notes that craft surveys provide detailed information on the demographics of craftspeople, their skills, the production process, and issues related to finance and marketing. **The paper references a 2010 survey in Bhutan which found over ten times more women were involved in some form of textile production, compared to a 2005 survey that focused on professionals. This highlights the difference between amateur/part-time and professional craft workers**. **Other Evidence:** - **Rising Labour Costs:** The paper notes that rising labour costs in regions like Asia-Pacific and Latin America make it harder to compete based on cost, highlighting the need for unique craft products with their own unique value. - **US Cultural Satellite Accounts:** The paper also points to the US Cultural Satellite Accounts to show that in 2011, the domestic manufacturing of cultural products was worth $31 billion while personal consumption of manufactured cultural goods was $17.5 billion. This shows the importance of craft to the US economy. Overall, the paper uses a range of data points, from national and international statistics to survey data, to support its argument about the economic, cultural and social value of craft.