Blog
Reports, analysis and guides on democratic trade, supply chain traceability and the EIU Democracy Index.
We follow a specialty coffee bag from the farm on the slopes of Barú volcano all the way to your kitchen shelf. At every stop, we check the democratic score.
The EIU Democracy Index is the most cited academic reference for measuring the democratic health of countries. Here we explain how it works, what it measures, and why we chose it as the foundation of our platform.
If you're thinking about listing your brand on Democratic Market, here is exactly what happens from the moment you submit your request to when the Transparency Shield appears on your product page.
Smartphones have the most opaque supply chain of any consumer product. Cobalt from the Congo, assembly in China, glass from South Korea. Here is everything you need to look at before you buy.
The fashion industry is the second most opaque on the planet in terms of supply chain. 93% of brands do not publish who manufactures their clothes or from which country. We analyse what separates the exceptions from the rest.
The natural cosmetics market has grown 300% in ten years. But 'natural' does not mean 'ethical'. Argan oil from Morocco, shea butter from Burkina Faso, mica from India: the star ingredients of sustainable cosmetics have very different democratic origins.
The spices you use every day come from some of the least democratic countries on Earth. Vanilla from Madagascar (EIU 3.64), saffron from Iran (EIU 1.73), pepper from Vietnam (EIU 2.82). But there are alternatives with verifiable democratic origin.
Every year we travel to destinations whose political reality we barely know. Thailand (EIU 4.32), Turkey (EIU 4.35), Egypt (EIU 3.06), Dubai (EIU 2.41). What does choosing a democratic destination mean? And what are the best alternatives?
We buy chocolate without thinking. But behind every bar is a supply chain that passes, in most cases, through Côte d'Ivoire — a country with an EIU score of 3.01. Here's what that means and what alternatives exist.
Spain, Italy and Greece produce 70% of the world's olive oil and have EIU scores between 7.35 and 7.94. Morocco and Turkey, however, don't exceed 4.35. The difference in origin matters more than you think.
The best wine-producing countries according to the EIU Index are not the ones you'd expect. Chile scores 8.13, Uruguay 8.91. Georgia, considered the cradle of wine, barely reaches 5.63. The democratic map of wine changes everything.
Ethiopia is the origin of coffee. It also has an EIU of 3.60. Costa Rica (8.00) and Colombia (7.23) exceed the threshold. Kenya (5.69) and Rwanda (3.31) present different dilemmas. Specialty coffee forces us to think about these tensions.
Bangladesh is the world's second largest garment exporter. Its EIU is 3.81. Portugal (7.94), India (7.18) and Vietnam (2.94) complete the textile map. Understanding where your clothes are made is the first step.
Laptops and headphones have supply chains as complex as smartphones. But there are important differences between brands. Framework (US 7.85), Fairphone and Taiwanese manufacturers (Taiwan 8.99) open a different path.
A diamond can come from Congo (EIU 1.76) or Botswana (EIU 7.81). Gold can be from an artisanal mine in Colombia (7.23) with Fairmined certification or from Venezuela (2.28). And watches: Switzerland (EIU 9.14) against Chinese replicas (2.12). Democratic origin reaches the jewellery box too.
Germany (8.58), Austria (8.60), New Zealand (9.26), Colombia (6.55). The democratic origin of baby food ingredients varies enormously by category. We analyse infant formulas, purees and cereals component by component.
IKEA is Swedish (EIU 9.26) but sources timber from Belarus (EIU 2.49) and Russia (2.22). Teak for outdoor furniture can come from Myanmar (1.93) or certified plantations in Costa Rica (8.00). Fritz Hansen (Denmark 9.28) or e15 (Germany 8.58) manufacture entirely in democratic Europe.
The world's highest-quality whey protein comes from New Zealand (EIU 9.26) and Ireland (EIU 8.69). Creatine and amino acid concentrates are synthesised mainly in China (EIU 2.12). MyProtein, Optimum Nutrition and Prozis — the democratic analysis of what you take before training.
Fish protein can come from Norway (9.81) or Vietnam (2.94). Soy ingredients are processed in China (2.12) or Argentina (7.15). Your pet's wellbeing also has a democratic supply chain — or not.
Germany (8.58), Sweden (9.26), South Korea (8.09), China (2.12). The democratic map of white goods is relatively favourable in Europe — but the entry of Chinese brands changes the picture.
Germany (8.58), US (7.85), Austria (8.60), China (2.12). Power tools and hand tools have one of the clearest democratic divides on the market: European and North American manufacturers against the Chinese supply chain.
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