Experts to essay reasons for decline of Jute sector

28 Mar '08

3 min read

The city was at the hub of global trading in jute, importing from India and exporting around the world. That faded with the decline of the local jute industry as it faced a number of pressures."

"What we want to examine in some detail is the bigger economic picture of why the jute industry declined, particularly in relation to international competition and the changing market for jute products,"

"We will look at the response of the industry to these issues and what actions were taken both politically and technologically to try and stave off the decline of the industry."

Dr Morelli said the project would also look at the impact the disappearance of jute mills from Dundee had on a huge section of the city's population - its women.

"Another focus of our study will be the impact on women's lives. It is a highly unusual feature of the industry that the jute workforce was largely made up of women," said Dr Morelli, of the Department of Economic Studies at the University.

The research team is also looking to build an oral history looking both at previously gathered testimony and through speaking to people who were involved in the jute industry in Dundee.

Archive material around the country, including the substantial documentation relating to the local industry which is held within the University's own archive, will also be drawn upon.

University of Dundee

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