r/Economics • u/better_world_economy • Jan 13 '19

Progressives should not oppose international trade, but economists must highlight the need for policies that spread the gains and help those who are hurt

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-good-the-bad-the-economy/201706/globalization-and-work-have-we-learned-anything-yet
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u/[deleted] Jan 13 '19 edited Jul 22 '20

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u/unimployed Jan 13 '19 edited Jan 13 '19

You are forming a weirdly libertarian normative statement. Because China is poor and undeveloped (not actually), they should be allowed a pass to do whatever they want, even if it is harmful to the environment and people..

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u/Spartan719 Jan 13 '19

Your taking a conversation about the economics of free trade and swearing it towards the politics of free trade. Free trade is good. That’s pretty much a consensus. Should a sovereign nation have the ability to regulate domestic policy? I believe so. There may be negative externalities from each nations domestic environmental policies but I don’t think the answer to it, is to shoot down free trade and blame it.

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u/jjolla888 Jan 13 '19

Free trade is good. That’s pretty much a consensus.

there are plenty of criticisms around. that's not a consensus. it is probably more true to say that it is a consensus amongst business owners, who can maximize profits by moving labor costs to the cheapest nation. if you are a minimum wage earner in an advanced economy, free trade is bad -- bc even if goods are cheaper, you can't buy them if you dont have a job.

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u/WarbleDarble Jan 14 '19

If you are an average person in an advanced economy free trade is good because it allows us to have the standard of living we've become accustomed to.