The poverty of protectionism
Date
2011
Authors
Schultz-Bergin, Marcus Ryan, author
Rollin, Bernard E., advisor
Archie, Andre M., committee member
Cutler, Harvey, committee member
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Abstract
Much of the modern debate on the global economy takes the form of two ships passing in the dark. The economics literature on the subject defends liberalized trade on empirical grounds while the philosophical literature defends protectionism on theoretical grounds. I aim to unite the literature, arguing against protectionism and defending liberalized trade both empirically and theoretically in the name of poverty reduction. In chapter 1 I explore two country-specific case studies to get an idea of how trade liberalization benefitted their development and poverty reduction efforts. I also establish a general background for both the economic theory, between protectionism and trade liberalization, as well as the current state of poverty and protectionism in the world. Chapter 2 seeks to expand the case study analysis to analyze three general ways protectionism and trade liberalization interact with poverty reduction efforts. I argue that trade liberalization, as opposed to protectionism, promotes short term gains to national wealth. Additionally, trade liberalization, as opposed to protectionism, promotes sustained growth and poverty reduction. Finally, I argue that trade liberalization contributes to good governance, while protectionism works against it. In the final chapter I will consider a theory of fairness for the global economic system and its implications on three aspects of the global economic order: worker exploitation, protectionism in the developed world and the Fair Trade movement.
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Subject
free trade
development
ethics
justice
poverty
protectionism