How to Enrich a Country: Free Trade or Protectionism?

What is the best way to make a country rich? Should you adopt a policy of free trade? Or is protectionism and economic nationalism the better way? We explore the history and theory of one of the central questions of economics and politics.
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FURTHER READING
“One of the most pressing choices facing modern economies is whether to adopt a policy of free trade or of protectionism, that is, whether to encourage foreign goods into the country with minimum tariffs and allow industries to relocate abroad; or whether to make it hard for foreign firms to sell their goods internally and discourage domestic producers tempted by cheaper wages in other lands…”
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Пікірлер: 1 500

  • @athiefinthenight6894
    @athiefinthenight68943 жыл бұрын

    I love how he starts neutral and then goes ultra pro free trade

  • @jacobite2353

    @jacobite2353

    Жыл бұрын

    Ehhh he points out how free trade can destroy livelihoods and people in general.

  • @jaystrickland4151

    @jaystrickland4151

    Жыл бұрын

    The Data itself is pro free trade. Look at the poverty rates in the 1950s vs now. Yes Yes I know houses were cheap then but keep in mind ~1/3 of those houses lacked running water also food was much more expensive as it would eat up 30 to 40% of a household budget.

  • @DaDARKPass

    @DaDARKPass

    3 ай бұрын

    That might be because free trade is a million times better.

  • @2livenoob

    @2livenoob

    2 ай бұрын

    @@DaDARKPass No Freetrade country stopped Putin from invading Ukraine because he controlled their supply chain. Yea, it didn't age well.

  • @ewingleong4251
    @ewingleong42515 жыл бұрын

    Meanwhile in the real school of life, British: We want wine. Portugal: We don't need wool. British: Warrrrrrrrrr... Portugal: wtf...

  • @pergrinepi3130

    @pergrinepi3130

    4 жыл бұрын

    We would have done worse if it was tea

  • @hedgehog_fox

    @hedgehog_fox

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@pergrinepi3130 British: We want tea. Chinese: We don't need wool. British: May I interest you with some of Britain's finest opium.

  • @davec1615

    @davec1615

    3 жыл бұрын

    sunny portugal needs that wool really bad to sweat in

  • @Will-bo7kg

    @Will-bo7kg

    3 жыл бұрын

    Switches wine to tea. *plants Union Jack 🇬🇧 *

  • @samhirst2830

    @samhirst2830

    3 жыл бұрын

    Portugal and Britain have the longest alliance in the world ever since the Anglo-Portuguese Treaty was signed in 1373.

  • @Kaggy84
    @Kaggy847 жыл бұрын

    It is a hard policy to balance. Some things are cheaper cause of currency manipulation, poorer quality control, poorer work conditions.

  • @SpookyGhost999
    @SpookyGhost9997 жыл бұрын

    If your goverment is corrupt, it doesn't matter.

  • @oreo507

    @oreo507

    7 жыл бұрын

    +Piwi hey lizard people are nice once you get to know them

  • @gangstashanksta

    @gangstashanksta

    7 жыл бұрын

    THANK YOU!!!!!

  • @damienscullytoo

    @damienscullytoo

    7 жыл бұрын

    So we should just give up and lie down like dead dogs. Right.

  • @retak4110

    @retak4110

    7 жыл бұрын

    This is true. My uncle says "a strict regime, far right country will do better" and then he says "but look at the nordics, they're doing great, too-". "It's all about corruption, when there is corruption, there is no system that works".

  • @wotwot6868

    @wotwot6868

    7 жыл бұрын

    Therefore we should rethink if we even need government as it is today. Switzerland practices Direct Democracy via their referendum policy. Btw, I don't think there such a concept as Direct Democracy because Direct Democracy is the only Democracy. Representative Gov't is not democracy and never will be.

  • @samuelwinnie5464
    @samuelwinnie54647 жыл бұрын

    The largest issue I have with this logic lies in the fact that often times the reason that many foreign countries can manufacture items so cheaply often is because of worker exploitation. If they don't have to provide their employees with the same standards of living as we do, they can afford to sell their product much more cheaply.

  • @JP-ou6ss

    @JP-ou6ss

    7 жыл бұрын

    Right. That may be a comparative advantage, but it's an UNFAIR advantage.

  • @erastanieldm483

    @erastanieldm483

    7 жыл бұрын

    Exactly, I am all about free trade, but, to put an example, here in Mexico we don't make automoviles for eight dollars an hour, we make them for less than eight dollars a day. ¿Do we want to make them at that price?, of course we do not, in Mexico the minimum wage is not a living wage; three and a half dollars a day just will not make it. ¿Do we get richer by making those automoviles?, not really, they are made for american enterprises, in fact, most of the products made in big factories are made by foreign enterprises, almost all the capital earnings go back to another country. This is both fault of my government failures and the dominant culture of the economic potencies (let us be honest, it is mostly fault of my government), I support free trade because no sane man will propose to grow pineapples in Sweden instead of in caribbean lands. ¿But what will happen if people in china making cell-phones suddenly get payed, at least, what they need to live?, the western powers like to say they have a high minimum wage that covers the cost of living, this is true mostly because they live almost completely on imported goods from countrys where it is cheaper to produce it; but if Mexico, Taiwan, China, Peru, etc, decided to pay a higher minimum wage (let's say seven dollars an hour like the U.S.) and the price of all products raised accordingly to this new minimum wage, then suddenly the minimum wage of those countrys (say the Netherlands, Sweden, Swiss) is not as fair as they thinked. First world countries need third world countries to produce cheaper goods for their consume. We, third world countries inhabitants, make those goods at such low prices, not because we like it, but because we have no other choice. Free trade, as we know it today, will not suffice.

  • @mistersinister2043

    @mistersinister2043

    7 жыл бұрын

    Samuel Winnie Free trade and capitalism does not protect workers or people's rights, which is why you must have some degree of socialism, including protectionism.

  • @Dawnbringerify

    @Dawnbringerify

    7 жыл бұрын

    Life isn't fair. Strip away these jobs from impoverished nations and they resort to prostitution and have a lower quality of life.

  • @joecox1074

    @joecox1074

    7 жыл бұрын

    I depends, what you call exploitation others will see as a sense of overentitlement. In certain cases it is definitely true that workers are exploited almost like slaves, but over all would you rather these poor 3rd world people have poor paying jobs or no jobs? At least with a poor paying job they have better living standards that no jobs.

  • @declannewton2556
    @declannewton25567 жыл бұрын

    From the perspective of developing countries free trade is bad. For example, Germany and Sub-Saharan Africa. Germany specializes in machinery while most of Sub-Saharan Africa specializes in agriculture: (i) The flow of imported machinery into Sub-Saharan Africa hinders the industrialization of the areas in which the machinery is imported. A further consequence would be that the human resources that would have been developed to cope with industrialization never existed denying the country of potentially talented individuals. (ii) Well according to the logic of this video, Germany should be a market for Sub-Saharan African produce. But Germany rarely imports on mass because, even though they don't specialize in agriculture, their agriculture industry can support them. German produce is so cheap compared to imports, it creates a barrier to imports similar to that in protectionism. This is most extreme in the dairy sector. Things are so cheap there that even after shipping, the dairy is cheaper in Sub-Saharan Africa than the local milk. So not only has cheap agriculture barred imports from Sub-Saharan Africa forcing local business in Africa to rely on a poor population as their only market, cheap German products threaten their only safe haven; they do not have the ability to industrialize.

  • @frenchstudentA

    @frenchstudentA

    4 жыл бұрын

    But what do the PEOPLE in these developing countries DO with the machinery they import? Does that machinery not make their economy richer? Does it not make the lives of the people easier?

  • @mattwall1073

    @mattwall1073

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@frenchstudentA How can they use the machinery to develop a competitive industry - to improve their economy - if they have to compete with far more developed countries in the stages of their growth? More developed industries from richer companies can sell the same product far cheaper and at higher quality, then how does the developing country get their industries moving in the first place? The video seems to suggest that some countries are just naturally better at producing some things than others, but when developing countries have been kept under collonial rule in the past and stopped from being able to start at the same time as all other countries, how can they have just have an industry that is somehow better than all other countries?

  • @j.muller-zitzke7647

    @j.muller-zitzke7647

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@mattwall1073 The real question is not who is the best at producing something (absolute advantage), but by how much is one economy more productive than another at producing a specific good (comparitive advantage). One country might be best at producing everything, and yet still it won't generate more welfare for the people of that country to produce everything instead of just the good with the most comparative advantage. This is because the labour force of that country is limited. Because of this, every country has comparative advantage in something (Ricardo-Theory). Also the problem with Africas agriculture is not that it hasn't implemented enough protectionism, but that Germany has to much of it. My country and the EU subsidize agriculture heavily "protecting farmers", thus harming farmers in Africa and Germany as well (huge welfare losses through taxes, which are needed to fund all of this).

  • @tomasrocha6139

    @tomasrocha6139

    3 жыл бұрын

    Yeah just like the sun dumping cheap light on us hinders the lamp and candle industries...

  • @AB-eq9mm

    @AB-eq9mm

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@frenchstudentA they would be able to develop their own machinery industry if they were protected from foreign markets.

  • @iamsaztak
    @iamsaztak7 жыл бұрын

    Seems like we need to strike a balance, with a slight bias towards protectionism. If your country can't foster it's own economy, it becomes dependent on the economies of others. So to maintain the soveirgnty of the citizens, there should be enough protection so that the country can more or less maintain itself regardless of the global economy. However, people also like to buy goods from other countries. And there's no reason the govt should put unnecessarily high taxes on imports, because if people want it, the govt shouldn't use taxes to "encourage" them not to buy it. Which is what tarriffs do. Influence buying/selling behavior. The taxes should be low, and very close to each other, with imports having a very slight increase (or maybe reflective of the rates other countries put on our own goods? so a country that has high tarriffs, we would match their tarriff rate for their goods. this encourages other countries to reduce taxes as well so that they remain competitive globally).

  • @SL-pg4dh

    @SL-pg4dh

    4 жыл бұрын

    This was actually great read. Excellent points. Im a a free trader but i love how you put this. Definitely posed it to me in different angle that provided better clarity.

  • @lansiman
    @lansiman7 жыл бұрын

    Free trade only work if all players play a fair game

  • @damienscullytoo

    @damienscullytoo

    7 жыл бұрын

    I agree. Which is why we can begin negotiations with another country by agreeing on a set amount of universal laws which we both must abide by. This is how Alliances start and in principal it works the same economically. The punishment would be of course economic reparations or classic taxation.

  • @lansiman

    @lansiman

    7 жыл бұрын

    Radioactive Snake you think China Mexico Brazil india will just relinquish their advantage and play along? Do you think people will buy China goods if it's the same price as American made products.

  • @damienscullytoo

    @damienscullytoo

    7 жыл бұрын

    Of course not, but thats the entire point of negotiations. Finding a common middle ground both parties benefit from. Raising say the amount those workers are paid however it will still be nowhere near what american workers are paid. The point is to compromise and find a common ground like any good agreement. "A good deal is one both parties benefit from".

  • @---uv4hl

    @---uv4hl

    5 жыл бұрын

    In my opinion,that’s impossible with human nature but if anybody has a solution for that I would be open to listen

  • @tomasrocha6139

    @tomasrocha6139

    3 жыл бұрын

    Trade is real life, not some silly children's game.

  • @Whoisemmanuel
    @Whoisemmanuel7 жыл бұрын

    If you like Adams you might check out 17th century economist Henry George's "Progress and Poverty"

  • @velipaju88_70
    @velipaju88_702 жыл бұрын

    The arguments for free trade are compelling, i'd still argue nations should be as self reliant as possible because of catastrofies. Be it war, natural dizaster or pandemic, the trade routes can be disrupted. In the very least there should be storages in case of disruptions. One of the biggest problem with the extreme specialization i can see is the chip production: practically all of it is in Taiwan. Which makes it geopolitically massive bargainig chip. Lets just say decides to take control of it - and then (eventually) declares who can and cannot get chips - a commody everything from cars to electronics requires in the modern day.

  • @harakaidou3285
    @harakaidou32853 жыл бұрын

    This is great!, our instructor instructed us to make an essay as to which is more effective to the economy. I understand the concept of trade liberalisation and trade protectionism. However, the question's sort of hard to answer since there are a lot of factors to consider! So much thanks for this vid! I really got useful ideas😁

  • @deinGesicht271
    @deinGesicht2717 жыл бұрын

    I would like to deliver a few economic concepts as a food for thought - from an economics Undergraduate. In aggregate the comparative advantage to produce a certain good can be among others explained through the scarcity and abundance of factors which are required to produce this good. In simple economic models (like the H-O Model) there are two factors which are analyzed - capital and labor. Assuming two goods X and Y and two countries USA and China. Assume further, To produce X one needs relatively more capital than to produce Y. On the other hand Y requires relatively more Labor to be produced (e.g. X is a Hightech product, and Y is apparel). Furthermore, say the USA is relatively more capital abundant than China and China is relatively more labor abundant than usa. The hypothesis is: The USA has a Comparative Advantage in producing X and China has a comparative advantage in producing Y. This is mainly because in China the abundance of labor induce low wages, which therefore leads to lower prices of products which need relatively more labor. In the USa the abundance of capital leads to a lower interest rate, so that capital intensive products can be produced cheaper. The result of free trade depends on some further considerations. If the economy can absorb labor and capital from the industry X and Y which are unemployed after trade instantly, then there is a set of transfers so that everyone would be better off after the free trade. I would like to add a few remarks on this analysis so far: The possibility of permanent unemployment and the destruction of capital: The instant absorption of capital and labor is obviously not guaranteed. One has to distinguish between certain labor and capital classes and there isn't necessary a perfect substitution for the skills and the capital which have been useful to produce the good which is now outsourced and the other goods of the economy. In the long run one can argue that the society will educate their laborforce in the direction of "comparative advantage goods" but in the short run a whole labor and capital class can be left behind. The institutional framework of the free trade agreement: This is related to non-tariff barriers between countries. Like different regulations regarding environment, labor security, health etc. To eliminate this one has to harmonize the regulations, which basically makes the two countries one country in certain areas. If the preferences regarding this regulations are highly different in these two countries, the economic benefits of free trade are not necessarily higher than the detriments of "living together". This is a bit like having roommates which have different notions of appropriate noise, cleanliness etc. You are saving money by living with them but the disutility of the inner conflicts which are induced by the different ways of living is maybe exceeding the economic benefits. The equivalence of free trade and technological change: Most economists would argue that the most influential factor regarding inequality and instablitiy in the western countries is technological change.New machines and more powerfuel algorithms are like immigrants which are doing the same stuff more efficient (whcih is equivalent to making the same amount of a product cheaper) Imperfections in markets: environmental externalities To trade with each other one needs to transport goods. To transport good nowadays one need fossil resources. fossil ressources are not rightly priced because the costs of the destruction of the environment are not internalized. An expansion of trade and production would increase this costs. market concentration The most markets are organized as oligiopolies. Especially in the global environment the economies which can be achieved through concentration of the market are substantial (e.g. to hedge exchange rate risk, to hedge operational risk, economies of scale, better conditions on financial markets etc.). Besides the economic costs of a higher market concentration (higher prices, lower quantity, lower wages etc.) it is questionable if it is optimal if we have such powerful institutions which are not democratically legitimated. There is no gurantee of completeness here. I just wanted to throw in some arguments

  • @theunreleasedvault2445

    @theunreleasedvault2445

    4 ай бұрын

    i’m not reading this

  • @TheChrisHoang
    @TheChrisHoang7 жыл бұрын

    Wait a second, this isn't my daily dose of depression.....

  • @cupofgreentea
    @cupofgreentea7 жыл бұрын

    i love watching your videos before going to sleep. The voice is so calming :)

  • @gigglysamentz2021
    @gigglysamentz20217 жыл бұрын

    In the end, the ideas are rather simple, but very well explained, especially thanks to the visuals.

  • @kukumul
    @kukumul7 жыл бұрын

    Thank you School of Life you always upload such great videos.

  • @joshissocool97
    @joshissocool977 жыл бұрын

    This assumes you have to choose one over the other. You need to combine then two

  • @harryburganjr.969

    @harryburganjr.969

    3 жыл бұрын

    You can’t combine the two... They have opposing goals

  • @zekea7215

    @zekea7215

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@harryburganjr.969 You can mix the two... tariffs and duties on only some goods, conditional tariffs based solely on the tariffs of other countries on those products, local subsidies and no tariffs like we do for oil just to maintain a local backup supply and accompanying jobs, it’s not cut and dry protectionism or free trade.

  • @harryburganjr.969

    @harryburganjr.969

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@zekea7215 Yeah, I've learned a lot more about trade since I wrote that comment so I'd amend what I said slightly. Under the right circumstances, tariffs can be used to promote free trade and economic growth. If the state is strong enough and if they make the correct assessments, they can use temporary tariffs in conjunction with other institutions to, for example, promote infant industries. And, tariffs can also be used as an important tool to bargain with other states and foster multilateral liberalization. All that being said, however, a rules-based free-trade system should always be the end goal imo and trade barriers can be used to achieve that goal. Yes, the two are not mutually exclusive, but they are not equal. Any reasonable measure of protectionism (of which, the number is getting smaller and smaller as value chains globalize) should be careful and as limited as possible; freer trade should always be the goal of such measures.

  • @charlesramirez587

    @charlesramirez587

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@harryburganjr.969 tariffs don't foster natural growth only artificially prop up inefficient industries. Along with draining the consumer of income unjustly and hamper overall economic growth by artificially constraining trade it hikes prices against actual market value. The jobs that distribution provides increases as well as overall economic value of the currency inside developing nations increases as the higher cheaper product is sold. The exchange creates leverage on the importer as it consumes the product of the producers and the greater that product does in the importer nation the more that nations economy expands. Free trade is much more productive to have real economic growth along with more stable living.

  • @charlesramirez587

    @charlesramirez587

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@zekea7215 we prop up oil only to make it competitively sold, it's not running out just that it's not providing enough value. Oil is incredibly cheap, so cheap infact that recently we've (globally) been producing it at a negative value due to lack of consumption and increased economic competition.

  • @KnowArt
    @KnowArt7 жыл бұрын

    never heard it clearer. Great job

  • @kume1985
    @kume19854 жыл бұрын

    Interesting video but lets not forget that import tariffs were the main source of the US budget income from the revolution until 1913. Many people say that US developed its industry due to these tariffs. Abraham Lincoln was quoted "“Give us a protective tariff and we will have the greatest nation on earth".

  • @justinhebert5155
    @justinhebert51556 жыл бұрын

    Very well explained, thank you!

  • @heinz091
    @heinz0917 жыл бұрын

    This video would have been more timely last year, though is clearly informed and motivated by the political shocks of the last year and is greatly welcome.

  • @maxrush206
    @maxrush2067 жыл бұрын

    7:14 why would France need to manufacture back massagers??

  • @oriontigley5089

    @oriontigley5089

    4 жыл бұрын

    Hon hon hon, oui oui rub me ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

  • @Hamza-oj3nc
    @Hamza-oj3nc3 жыл бұрын

    thank you so much. 8 minutes alone and I can understand all the general details of this topic. Great job.

  • @nthperson
    @nthperson7 жыл бұрын

    The best analysis of "free trade" was actually written in the late 19th century by the American political economist Henry George. This book was read into the Congressional Record by a number of Congressmen and mailed to millions of their constituents. Although Henry George championed the ability of people to trade with one another across borders, he warned that the potential benefits of free trade would be significantly reduced because of others laws and taxation policies that protected "rentier" interests (i.e., those who produced nothing but because they controlled land and natural resources were able to charge others "rent" for the mere right of access). Thus, George called for the elimination of all taxation, except for an annual tax on the potential rental value of land (and land-like assets, such as the broadcast spectrum).

  • @johningham1880
    @johningham18807 жыл бұрын

    Blessed are the Cheesemakers, for they shall inherit the Earth

  • @klintwhite9242

    @klintwhite9242

    3 жыл бұрын

    Obviously you don't mean that literally, I assume you are referring to any dairy manufacturers

  • @josephpostma1787

    @josephpostma1787

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@klintwhite9242 Because otherwise it would be dairist

  • @justicetruthwarrior4756

    @justicetruthwarrior4756

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@klintwhite9242 so you can make fun of scripture, unless you repent when you appear before your Lord and judge, you won't feel too humorous then, rest assured, get real knowledge instead of your shit humor

  • @josephpostma1787

    @josephpostma1787

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@justicetruthwarrior4756 Do you know if there talking bout just cheese makers?

  • @KyraThePenguinVlogs
    @KyraThePenguinVlogs7 жыл бұрын

    May I point out the irony in the description? "What is the best way to make a country rich? Should you adopt a policy of free trade? Or is protectionism and economic nationalism the better way? We explore the history and theory of one of the central questions of economics and politics. If you like our films, take a look at our shop (we ship worldwide)" LOL! It's not really a paradox, of course, but it's almost an answer to the question which is very seemingly unintentional! I do love you guys' videos though, keep it up :)

  • @ayushsundan
    @ayushsundan7 жыл бұрын

    the timing of the video couldn't be more perfect.With world powers having met to no avail, I grew some questions and frankly doubts regarding the much hyped free trade over mercantilism. But Adam Smith's acquaintence​ allayed much of them. History is a proof of the benefits of the free trade. thank you:)

  • @declanknittel
    @declanknittel7 жыл бұрын

    Very good video! Thanks for this!

  • @JapanJohnny2012
    @JapanJohnny20127 жыл бұрын

    4:36 I do remember learning about the corn laws during my British comprehensive education, but not sure whether optimum economics is the only worthy consideration. Here in Japan, they still exist largely to ensure self-sufficiency but also to preserve farming communities - there is a huge tariff on imported rice, but I don't think it impinges on the wider economy - there's a huge drift to big cities like Tokyo and Osaka anyway. Young people don't want to be farmers anymore.

  • @purplezinnia1139

    @purplezinnia1139

    Жыл бұрын

    "Young people don't want to be farmers anymore." Exactly. In the U.S. farmers are subsidized. Nonetheless, it requires a lot of money i.e. wealth to start a farm.

  • @crown9413

    @crown9413

    7 ай бұрын

    Japan is a bit special here, they have a very high food dependency ratio. Thus if trade were to be halted, in the case of a war or widespread famines or something japan’s would struggle to feed itself.

  • @hieronymuslarsson1388
    @hieronymuslarsson13887 жыл бұрын

    Global free trade is superior in creating value for us as consumers. On the labor market however, the ensuing extreme labor division (alongside automation) tends to create pretty damn understimulating and alienating jobs. In a deeper analysis, that quantifies the very real values in fulfilling, engaging jobs and professions fit for human beings, would free trade still trump protectionism? I'm not so sure, and at some point (now), when a substantial level of general wealth has been reached, this is a question that needs to be taken seriously. I freely admit i like Le Pen, Trump et al. in regards to how they show that it's possible to think outside the shallow consensus box in this issue.

  • @anarchic_ramblings

    @anarchic_ramblings

    5 жыл бұрын

    Working on a rice paddy your whole life is pretty boring too.

  • @Lengo67
    @Lengo675 жыл бұрын

    Nice job on this! Well done!

  • @vieworama8188
    @vieworama818811 ай бұрын

    Thank you for helping me with my university economics assignment

  • @florenceloveect
    @florenceloveect4 жыл бұрын

    Is that a vibrator at 7:19? Lol

  • @Djfr

    @Djfr

    3 жыл бұрын

    Lmao

  • @Lilac_Pearl

    @Lilac_Pearl

    3 жыл бұрын

    Seems like it. Lolzzzz

  • @raymondcarter8915

    @raymondcarter8915

    3 жыл бұрын

    Back Massager

  • @shehabkamal6620
    @shehabkamal66207 жыл бұрын

    great video and at a perfect time too

  • @TheJamesRedwood
    @TheJamesRedwood7 жыл бұрын

    Thank you, apt and eloquent.

  • @KieranMarsden19
    @KieranMarsden197 жыл бұрын

    wow, I think you just articulated and explained the whole political change going on right now better than hours and hours of footage and writing trying to get thier heads around the rise of 'populism'. clap clap clap :)

  • @Guizambaldi
    @Guizambaldi7 жыл бұрын

    This one is really good. Being an economist I am very happy a philosopher got this right.

  • @northmeister

    @northmeister

    7 жыл бұрын

    You should study empirical data and not theory and then maybe one of you economists could get something right for a a change.

  • @jaymayhoi
    @jaymayhoi7 жыл бұрын

    Hi School of Life, great video. Just wondering on your thoughts on Kicking away the ladder by Ha-Joon Chang. More specifically, the idea that protectionism being used to allow industries/sectors to develop past the high cost stages of production to the more cost efficient stages that later allow them to compete on the international standards.

  • @vajliakduke6231

    @vajliakduke6231

    3 жыл бұрын

    I recommend you to read books by Michael Pettis. He described how distorted policy lead to imbalance in global trade and they eventually hurt both surplus and deficit countries, and surplus countries will take even more damages

  • @RitzPerera
    @RitzPerera4 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for that amazing explain

  • @mateuszbieniek4791
    @mateuszbieniek47917 жыл бұрын

    As others have pointed out, it is funny to see how an 8 minute video tells you with so much confidence what is right and what is not, when the academics and economists argue about the complex interplay of both. Not mentioning that quite a few simplistic assumptions break down when you introduce automation and a great disparity in the wealth/skills of countries. I agree with another comment here that this video is deceptive. Even in countries that you'd assume free trade is practised, it is not that simple. The US has maintained much of its industry like Boeing with its military arm, not mentioning supporting companies like IBM in the technology development, its way of supporting the educational system and universities are also a form of subsidy, etc. In the book Kicking Away the Ladder: Development Strategy in Historical Perspective by Ha-Joon Chang from Cambridge University, you can find more objections and difficulties. I think it is clear that there is no ideal answer to this free trade or protectionism, it is best to consider such matters policy by policy, and not allow yourself to be swayed with idealistic thinking that there is one true path to follow.

  • @camerondeans9056
    @camerondeans90567 жыл бұрын

    It's all well and good to say that workers whose profession's are outsourced to other countries just need to be trained in the new professions which are a strength of the country they live in, but this targeting of production can ultimately lead to a reduced variety of professions, which may not allow individuals to train in their personal strengths

  • @purplezinnia1139

    @purplezinnia1139

    Жыл бұрын

    True. And to train individuals means that education systems have to get out of the dark ages. Such as how education is funded by property taxes in the U.S.

  • @Albukhshi
    @Albukhshi7 жыл бұрын

    Here's the thing though: when government tries to do what you imply, it invariably ends in failure; either reaction against it cripples it, or, more often, people support these, but the system (inevitably) breaks down within a couple of generations; these are usually because government methods are by default inefficient and impractical. Note for example the unfunded liabilities issue in the US' social security program, or the constant talk of Healthcare reform in the UK and Canada (and the US). I agree with you on the conclusion that free trade is fundamentally good, and also that one has to address any costs associated with it (as with any system), but we need a new way than what we have to do this. We also, to be honest, need a new set of social codes, to enhance the good in modern society, and to achieve this in a flexible, adaptable manner--without recourse to the current (shitty) methods. I also would argue that we need to abandon the idea that one must have a degree to succeed in life, but that's another story, and Mike Rowe expresses similar ideas better.

  • @calladricosplays
    @calladricosplays7 жыл бұрын

    Can you do a video on how best to protect the general populace? Or how to protect your loved ones from human threats? I know there may be many videos and talks on this topic already but I would love to hear a historical/philosophical approach, especially regarding the importance of community

  • @CeciVelasco
    @CeciVelasco7 жыл бұрын

    School of Life, how do you figure automation can impact the ideals of free trade?

  • @jommydavi2197
    @jommydavi21977 жыл бұрын

    Once again another excellent and thoroughly thought provoking video! Great job guys!

  • @faded_ink3545
    @faded_ink35457 жыл бұрын

    Keep in mind that Smith and his contemporaries like Hume stood to gain a lot from free market economics and minimalist state involvement - Hume only wanted the state to protect merchant property and that it. Whilst their points may be valid it's important to remember they themselves were merchants and stood to gain a lot by minimising the state and maximising the market.

  • @Volkbrecht
    @Volkbrecht7 жыл бұрын

    The video leaves out two important facts that heavily change the discussion: First, in times of little technological progress and at the same time the rule of multinational corporations like we experience them now there are very vew areas of production countries can really specialize in, which makes Smith's theory inapliccable to our times. When the only difference between countries, the only thing managers can take into account when for instance deciding where to put a new car production line, are wages and/or ecological obligations, we have a ruinous competition, in which no one gets rich. It's not really the case that Mexico is BEST at producing cars, they are simply cheapest. So, in order to get trade balances back in order, it actually makes some sense to get a certain amount of production of needed goods in ones own country. This way, one can force multinational players to compete within the country, thus necessarily applying the local social and ecological rules. Second, there is the fact that the term "free trade" is highly misleading. Can it be called "free trade" when highly subsidized industries throw their products into markets that have to produce at real costs? Is it free trade when a country with a well developed social security systems imports goods that are produced under conditions that would be outright illegal were they applied to that countries own workforce? The way the world is nowadays, the only real "free markets", meaning, such markets in which all the competitors have to compete under a set of equal rules and restrictions, are national. Like with most economical theories, Smith's is way too simple to be sensibly applied to the complex world we live in nowadays. China has proven that catching up to the established technological level can be done very successully by NOT fully opening markets, and if countries like the US will now start to close their borders to goods that can be made inside of them, that WILL lead to success. Because, as I said above, it is no longer the countries competing against each other, it's big corporations. Forcing them to produce the stuff they want to sell in a way that will allow their customers to share their economical success is not such a bad idea.

  • @sauragra
    @sauragra7 жыл бұрын

    Very well explained. Thanks..

  • @thomasedgerley7453
    @thomasedgerley74537 жыл бұрын

    Love your videos, though they do continue to depress me with disappointment in people and society. Anyway, was wondering, you've never made a video on the history of tea. Considering the contrast between English and Japanese tea culture I think there are messages to be spread.

  • @rahrahaaah4685
    @rahrahaaah46857 жыл бұрын

    Dear School of Life, Could you please make a video regarding the recovery, feelings and struggle of sexual assault? Thank you.

  • @bolivar1789

    @bolivar1789

    7 жыл бұрын

    Hello Baba Jaga. I thought I could send you a little list: 1. There is an excelent psychology podcast called " Shrink Rap Radio". They have several episodes on this issue. Just search on google for: " Shrink Rap Radio, Sexual Abuse". You can start with the episode called: " Resurrection after rape with Matt Atkinson". 2. There is an incredibly moving TED Talk by" Ione Wells", called " How we talk about sexual assault online". She herself is a rape victim, or better to say a " survivor". An incredibly wise and brave young woman who really has something to say about it. 3. There is a podcast called " On Being with Krista Tippett". You can listen to the episode " Trauma and resilience in our bodies" with the trauma expert Bessel van der Kolk. He is very well known on that field. I hope this helps. I wish you so well.

  • @aminbe3079
    @aminbe30797 жыл бұрын

    Your videos are gold

  • @Ouroboros6
    @Ouroboros67 жыл бұрын

    Great video. will be sharing.

  • @JR-bj3uf
    @JR-bj3uf5 жыл бұрын

    I noticed, while watching this that the ill effects of Adam Smith's philosophy were down played. The term "learn to code" kept popping up in my head as the trite and condescending natural response to the economic suffering of others. In the US we have been fed a steady diet of free trade when all around us, the countries that we trade with, are heavily biased against our goods. How can you have "free trade" when your trading partners erect barriers to your own products? Now the free trade destroyed great swaths of the our manufacturing base they have turned their attention to open borders. The justification for this sounds very much like the defense of free trade. It will be great for businesses and the wealth of nations but it will stink for the average citizen. It's a good thing we can count on government programs to provide retraining and healthcare as well as bread and circuses.

  • @celdur4635

    @celdur4635

    2 жыл бұрын

    Adam Smith proposed that the state break up monopolies, build public infrastructure and public healthcare and education. Don't criticize without reading.

  • @charlesgoodson1001
    @charlesgoodson10017 жыл бұрын

    Thank you! This was perfect.

  • @Xgckl
    @Xgckl7 жыл бұрын

    Something that should have been mentioned is the Import Substitution Industralization. That is, the idea that some goods, specifically industrial goods, can't compete on the global market, so you shouldn't let them. So you put high import tariffs into place and let your own industry supply domestic demand. Once you built up your own industry, you slowly lower tariffs and let your homegrown industry compete on the world market. This is effectively what every known industrial nation did, hence the belief that it works, even if there are certainly doubts about it. Basically, there's a time and a place for import tariffs and protectionism. Which is why industrial nations are the chief proponents of free trade. They already have industries which are able to compete on the global market.

  • @Maria-tt2wh
    @Maria-tt2wh7 жыл бұрын

    very interesting! great video! :-)

  • @BramVanhooydonck
    @BramVanhooydonck7 жыл бұрын

    Smells like Scotland versus Brexit. According to Smith: International consumerism leads to specialisation and freedom of choice.

  • @danieldeblasio9368

    @danieldeblasio9368

    4 жыл бұрын

    Also interdependency on other nations! As a result, nations are losing their national sovereignty.

  • @jerseyanusa2420
    @jerseyanusa24207 жыл бұрын

    NOT such a good video. You spend much more time on Adam Smith's theories, and the length of time spent far exceeds the time spent on the values of protectionism UNFAIRLY skewing the discussion.

  • @miguelcorredera6650
    @miguelcorredera66508 күн бұрын

    This video couldn't have aged better ! 🇨🇵🇺🇲

  • @noah3538
    @noah35382 жыл бұрын

    Excellent video with great animations

  • @andrewtoronyi5827
    @andrewtoronyi58275 жыл бұрын

    Why do I have a hard time understanding this

  • @Jaaziar
    @Jaaziar7 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for dropping this a day before my Economics paper. This is a great recap of macro-economics!

  • @TheSm1thers
    @TheSm1thers4 жыл бұрын

    Should be and is a mix of both dependent on the circumstances. Pragmatic approach.

  • @nat7352
    @nat73523 жыл бұрын

    Great video!

  • @howel87
    @howel875 жыл бұрын

    The solution is Balance. Focus on producing what you have an advantage in while also trying to be as versatile as ur ability allows you to reduce dependence in countries with added advantage.

  • @rrose9161

    @rrose9161

    Жыл бұрын

    The solution to every problem is balance ( but imbalance and chaos/exercises of authority are a hell of a drug in how addictive they are)

  • @Aanthanur
    @Aanthanur4 жыл бұрын

    2:19 My country was good at nothing according to that map :( we had mercenaries at the time

  • @anthonyymm511
    @anthonyymm511 Жыл бұрын

    Wow great video. Love the dunking on le pen too haha

  • @lordominios
    @lordominios7 жыл бұрын

    I live in swizerland and production in swizeeland that requires labor is extremly expensive due to the record high wages is swizerland. this makes it verry atractive to import produced goods from countries like china. however this is considerd generaly as moraly dubious due to the working conditions in those chinese factorys.

  • @HANITAI.
    @HANITAI.7 жыл бұрын

    *Feedback* I really love your videos, but this channel is supposed to be different than school, where I dont learn all these interesting stuff about life. the problem is, the voice of the narrator is very sleepy, and its hard for me to keep track with my ADHD, the content is very interesting, is it possible for you to brodcast the content in a more interesting way?

  • @stankmt5016
    @stankmt50167 жыл бұрын

    Learned more about economics in this video than I did in a semester.

  • @damienscullytoo

    @damienscullytoo

    7 жыл бұрын

    The school of life does that haha

  • @heyhey89674

    @heyhey89674

    7 жыл бұрын

    Stan KMT Check out Ha Joon Chang, Ralph Gomory and Noam Chomsky on this.

  • @911Salvage

    @911Salvage

    7 жыл бұрын

    You must have been too lazy.

  • @gperson1967

    @gperson1967

    6 жыл бұрын

    Maybe you need some ritilan.

  • @therealnoodles7638

    @therealnoodles7638

    6 жыл бұрын

    Ha Joong Cha is excellent on this. Most economists are blind but he isn't.

  • @kunilingvist
    @kunilingvist7 жыл бұрын

    Please, answer me! I just wanna translate Your videos on my Language. Not subtitles. Is any collab possible?

  • @zoefofo7769
    @zoefofo77696 жыл бұрын

    Both beneficial. It's depend on how you do it

  • @PBman987
    @PBman9877 жыл бұрын

    I agree with most things in the video, but what was failed to be addressed was that economies that are more protectionist will be more financially stable even thought in the long term it will be poorer. Another thing is that part of the problem with free trade, is that our economy, in the west at least, grows so much that we need to spend more and more to keep up with it. This is a large factor in our debt. So yes it is true the economy would grow more when the system comes crashing down the protectionist nations will be better off. So would the rational conclusion not be that each police is better in different situations. And that we should at least keep some protectionist polices even when things are fine so that we have a diverse eccominy for when things get bad. And in a capitalist system there will always be ups and downs. Nothing in politics are politically one sided, and I am taken aback on how you guys do not understand this. But I would love to talk more about it.

  • @pennymac16

    @pennymac16

    7 жыл бұрын

    What gave you the idea that they don't understand this?

  • @kevinyoung947

    @kevinyoung947

    6 жыл бұрын

    Why does government spending have to go up politicians sell spending more but outside of that theirs no requirement for that we didn't need to spend 4.3 trillion in the Middle East since 2001 and a lot of our spending is protectionist based subsidizing multiple industries so their cheaper then foreign products, also there was no great stability before capitalism they had ups and downs it's just the up wasn't very high and the low was extremely low

  • @hamnchee

    @hamnchee

    6 жыл бұрын

    One thing not addressed is that free trade not only makes economies more efficient, but also creates a situation where countries are less likely to fight each other, since each "relies" on the other for some portion of livelihood. So in a sense, preparing for bad times by adopting protectionism, can bring on those very bad times, as you are denying your countrymen, as well as your would-be trading partners in other nations, the very things that create the good times: cheaper, and higher quality goods. How do you get a valuable resource? You can buy it (trade) or you can steal it (war). The latter is much more expensive.

  • @nerdymidgetkid
    @nerdymidgetkid7 жыл бұрын

    I fully understand the logic of comparative advantage, as my entire economic education has been Classical. However, I think it's worth pointing out that a country which has lower wages and therefore lower input costs has a comparative advantage in every good, all else being equal. What is the benefit in subjecting poor workers in poor countries to inhumane working conditions by the injection of capital from rich investors in rich countries? The only ones who benefit are the investors. The theory of comparative advantage is that, if every nation specialises and removes protection, every nation will benefit. However, there is no benefit to a nation which pursues free trade while its competitors pursue protectionism, allowing imports to enter freely while its own exports are blocked. Therefore, in the case of China, the beneficiaries are Western capitalists on one hand, who maximise their own profits, and the Chinese Communist Party, which reaps the benefits of its worker's labour. The general population of both China and the West suffers as a result. Allowing capital to flow freely into low wage countries will only benefit the general population so far as it benefits the regime. Of course, there has been a great reduction of poverty in China, but the Chinese government now has an interest in maintaining low wages. Thus, the low-wage environment in countries like China is perpetuated by the existing system. What, therefore, is the benefit for the West continuing to pursue the policy of free trade? It seems to me that the only beneficiaries on both sides are the rich and powerful. I'd be interested to hear counter-arguments, because as I said I fully understand the theoretical arguments for free trade, and by no means do I dismiss them.

  • @waleedalam7927
    @waleedalam79277 жыл бұрын

    I wish you guys did more vids on the history of philosophers and the history of philosophy like you used to

  • @Virtual-Media
    @Virtual-Media7 жыл бұрын

    As the costs of commodities go up, minimalism will begin to develop in many and reduce the the practice of consumerism and capitalism. Our family has begun to pursue a lifestyle of minimalism and realized what a sham capitalism and consumerism has played in our lives. As the price of consumer goods increase we feel better every time we ask ourselves is this purchase a want or a need and found it astonishing how much we were spending senselessly. I've shared this philosophy with family, coworkers and friends and most have come to the same conclusion. Protectionism will drive up costs of consumer goods and erode the walls of capitalism / consumerism through necessity, mindfulness or both.

  • @matheuspinheiro4796

    @matheuspinheiro4796

    4 жыл бұрын

    I really don't believe this is a good reason, as much as I hate consumerism, i don't think it's necessary. It's good for the people who already have money but what about the others? This practice is more of a personal thing and it doesn't need to be restrained by the govermnent to be popular.

  • @Virtual-Media

    @Virtual-Media

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@matheuspinheiro4796Valid point however I don't think it's ethical for government to put constraints on or give advantages to people because of their economic status.

  • @propertyvaluationgroup1572
    @propertyvaluationgroup15727 жыл бұрын

    Free trade works when there is a level playing field. But when one country has workers rights and min. wage laws and competes with a country that doesn't, then it becomes problematic. For example, Japan trading with the US makes sense because they have similar ideals but the US trading with China is not a level playing field.

  • @AroundSun

    @AroundSun

    5 жыл бұрын

    also, China has tariffs on anything we send over there, so its not like the trade is free. They get to dump their goods in our market and we can't do the same to them, hurting our exports

  • @chicosquelloran6410
    @chicosquelloran64103 жыл бұрын

    As a mexican I couldn't agree more. By one end, Free trade with the US and Canada improved mexican industrial production and generated millions of jobs in factories, but it also caused lots of farmer families to lose their way of life, so even though the situation was generally better after than before NAFTA agreement, millions of mexicans from the countryside emigrated to the US seeking a better life because in Mexico there was nothing for them anymore and our government turned its back on them. This is why I've stopped being a libertarian, because absolutely free and unrestricted trade and unregulated economy has consecuences too. Great video btw.

  • @AroundSun
    @AroundSun5 жыл бұрын

    Free trade is great granted all other trading nations also lift their tariffs. But when you trade with other nations who impose tariffs on your exports, they have the advantage. They're allowed to dump their goods into your country without accepting your exports. So putting up trade barriers can act as temporary leverage to get them to take their barriers down. Obviously, you need to be one of the largest consumer nations (US) in order for this to work or the exporting country won't care. Also, the manipulation of currency by other trading nations creates other problems. Another issue probably unforeseen by Smith at the time is the fact that it's not always the foreign country producers who are manufacturing goods. Sometimes, its your own countrymen who set up shop overseas for cheap labor and low taxes, then try to export back to their home country for a massive profit, taking advantage of the lack of tariffs. Adding a tariff can then prevent that business leaving the country in the first place with the foreknowledge that you cannot manufacture and sell back to the home country. The cost imposed by the tariff must outweigh the amount that company will save by moving to another country. Any imports that do make it through with the added tariff, the government can use that tax revenue to subsidize exporting industries. I don't like any of this and wish that all countries would trade freely but that's not the reality at present.

  • @Mussul
    @Mussul7 жыл бұрын

    Question. What if the protectionist taxes of that period of time had been gradually reduced over the course of a larger period of time? Giving more time for the redistribution of labor in other areas, would it minimize the social impact?

  • @nickb1178
    @nickb11787 жыл бұрын

    Your voice is like male Joanna Lumley

  • @damienscullytoo

    @damienscullytoo

    7 жыл бұрын

    Ikr? You should watch potholer54....His voice does something in explainable to me....

  • @that_pac123
    @that_pac1237 жыл бұрын

    Imma say rn, i'm leaning towards free trade, tell you if I change my mind.

  • @that_pac123

    @that_pac123

    7 жыл бұрын

    Yea, no I didn't, and for all the reasons that you stated in the video, it's what au keep trying to say, but noone will listen. :( More people need to watch this video.

  • @TheOrbitalDropShock
    @TheOrbitalDropShock7 жыл бұрын

    You get the best of both wooooorlds! Chill it out, take it slow, then you rock out the show! You get the best of both wooooorlds! Mix it all together, and you know that it's the best of both worlds.

  • @sujitsadhnani750
    @sujitsadhnani7503 жыл бұрын

    Perfect.. Loved it

  • @generalakbarr
    @generalakbarr7 жыл бұрын

    id be down for helping relocate and educated coal miners if it meant cleaner air.

  • @VictorXimenes
    @VictorXimenes7 жыл бұрын

    Free trade and war. I learned this from Rome: Total War the game :D

  • @channamasala
    @channamasala7 жыл бұрын

    I thought the wool/wine England/Portugal example came from Ricardo not Smith. Am I correct?

  • @buranaponglin2483
    @buranaponglin24836 жыл бұрын

    Very useful theory any time, especially now.

  • @visemarraellaeris3644
    @visemarraellaeris36447 жыл бұрын

    At this point I'd go with protectionism. We've been dealing with the negative effects of Neoliberal economics for decades.

  • @samuelefesoa7317

    @samuelefesoa7317

    5 жыл бұрын

    @Jack McCabe That's because there is high consumer confidence.

  • @untruelie2640
    @untruelie26407 жыл бұрын

    I think your video is very one-sided. You're mixing the ideas of Adam Smith with those of David Ricardo. Smith was very concerned about the specialization of work, because he saw it as it was (and is): a destructive force which destroys the dignity and intellectual self-integrity of humans. Ricardos argument about the english and portugese wine, etc. has a fundamental flaw: he says that the only thing which prevents the owner of a company to leave the country, is some sort of an "sentimental/patriotic feeling" this is clearly nonsense in the modern world of global economy. Plus, his concept only works, if transportation is limited by the speed of sailing ships. And Ricardo was a financial speculator, who represented the interests of the rich english merchants, not the entire nation. Today, we see the results: Instability, social unrest and the rise of populism in the western countries, exploitation in the eastern countries and starvation and misery in Africa and other poorer countries. For example, Haitis economy was ruined by the "free trade" and unemployment and famines were the results for the people, while a few rich capitalists made profit. In general, the mass transportation of goods around the world and specialized mono-cultural farms are a massive threat to the environment. But despite it essentially only favours the rich and brings harm to the poor, almost all people are convinced that "free trade" is the solution for everything. It is as Marx said: The opinion of the ruling class is the opinion of the whole society... Oh, and your solution of an compensation by the state seems very impractical to me. It was born in the world of the 18th and 19th century, but it is far more complicated in the modern world. And why trying to fix a not-working system which fails because of the human character? You can't change the human character, but you can change the system.

  • @telltellyn

    @telltellyn

    7 жыл бұрын

    Compensation isn't easy, but it's possible. The OECDs that have risen to the top in living standards over the last few decades have achieved that by compensating for the flaws in capitalism and neo-liberal free trade, while nations refusing to take those measures (like the USA, with their phobia of socialism) have fallen behind.

  • @DaYouKlu

    @DaYouKlu

    7 жыл бұрын

    nextpkfr Exactly the highest standards of living you find in nordic european countries, switzerland, etcetera. And those countries all mix free trade with socialist ideas.

  • @itchyshizle

    @itchyshizle

    7 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for inspiring me to seek further education. :)

  • @777mofo

    @777mofo

    7 жыл бұрын

    +Untrue Lie Everything you just described has little to do with "free trade" and much more to do with corruption, crony capitalism and state intervention. ie socalism.

  • @777mofo

    @777mofo

    7 жыл бұрын

    +DaYouKlu When people talk about nordic countries, they fail to realize that it was not socialism that made their countries prosperous. It was capitalism that made them prosperous, the socialism only came "after" they had created their industry and prosperity.

  • @askar4kill
    @askar4kill7 жыл бұрын

    Excellent video. Just while brexit is going on and politicians are constantly talking about the single market & customs union - this very neatly summarizes it all on the basis of economic principle.

  • @irimiaiustin8668
    @irimiaiustin86687 жыл бұрын

    The example with England and Portugal is one of David Ricardo's about comparative advantage...

  • @northmeister

    @northmeister

    7 жыл бұрын

    The only comparative advatage exists in nature (resources and land). Outside if that there is none and the theory is nonsense. Smith said that America would only amount to a agricultural country that we could not produce - welllllll we proved that wrong because any nation can produce if it develops the talent and will power to do it and a balanced economy between commerce, industry, and agriculture is the most stable. Protectionism accomplishes that as did mercantilism before it.

  • @TimTarling
    @TimTarling7 жыл бұрын

    The union flag at 3:15 is upside down, the red diagonal lines on the right should be in the lower part of the white and the red diagonal lines on the left should be in the upper part of the white... and yes it's a union flag, not a jack, a jack must be on a boat (the union flag in the top left with the red around it that you find on a boat is still not a union jack, it's an ensign and so the union jack is actually very rare to see)

  • @DucksDeLucks
    @DucksDeLucks6 жыл бұрын

    Another point in favor of protectionism: Suppose you know your country could make good cars if it just had some practice. But whenever you try the foreign auto makers under-price you to keep you from getting off the ground. Then it makes sense to slap a tariff on auto imports to give your domestic industry time to get up to speed. The tariff can slowly be removed.

  • @uergihliauglhufirgu
    @uergihliauglhufirgu7 жыл бұрын

    The solution to this could be a mix between the two systems. Protectionism on essential food items such as grain, meat etc. And free trade for let´s say, technology. Then a country can survive if the foodsupply is cut from abroad, and also get some items cheaper from other countries.

  • @nikolasb6929
    @nikolasb69293 жыл бұрын

    I think true free trade can only be achieved the day that there are no longer borders and no longer nations. For example, you can’t have free movement of products and not have free movement of labor. We see this today with the collapse of industry in many western nations because jobs can get exported to places where cost of living is less but if these workers that got laid off can’t move to those areas, they can’t take advantage of those opportunities. Limiting movement of people is basically just modern mercantilism and in my view, is the biggest trade barrier of all.

  • @aldobatres7086

    @aldobatres7086

    Жыл бұрын

    That is obvious, many companies depend on the fact that there are many Africans who cannot move and therefore are forced to accept wages of 2 dollars for 10 hours of work, a question. Where is a child useful to Nike In Vietnam where you can put him to work for less than 50 cents an hour or in France where you can't even convince him to work?

  • @CJusticeHappen21
    @CJusticeHappen217 жыл бұрын

    Great. I guess I didn't need that BA in Economics after all.

  • @rhysoliver227

    @rhysoliver227

    7 жыл бұрын

    Whys that?

  • @CJusticeHappen21

    @CJusticeHappen21

    7 жыл бұрын

    It was a joke. But, since you asked: everything he's said about trade policy is true.

  • @rhysoliver227

    @rhysoliver227

    7 жыл бұрын

    CJusticeHappen21 surely you learned more or have a job in economics of some description? I'm not a uni. Because of this. Marketability.

  • @CJusticeHappen21

    @CJusticeHappen21

    7 жыл бұрын

    Of course I learned other things, such as the concept of a prohibitive opportunity cost and diminished marginal utility. For an example, *_this_*, what we are doing right now.

  • @gperson1967

    @gperson1967

    6 жыл бұрын

    At least you didn’t get one in art history.

  • @felixdebrook2728
    @felixdebrook27287 жыл бұрын

    To say about modern protectionism that "these arguments make no sense" lacks explanations...

  • @IndyThought
    @IndyThought7 жыл бұрын

    With regard to how the lower class suffered in England when cheaper corn was allowed to be imported, I think it was the bubble created by the regulation keeping it out for so long, preventing free trade, that made the adjustment of labor supply and demand so much worse. I also don't think it necessarily follows that government need be involved in retraining the affected workforce. Unregulated labor costs would allow true market pricing of labor, and people would be able to determine where they want to pursue employment based on the economic trends. In essence, the labor force is much more attuned to what's making them money or not, and better at choosing where to focus their resources. Career fields that need people are more willing to pay attractive salaries and publicize that they're looking for people. This is why you see (in America at least) plenty of commercials for jobs in the IT and healthcare sectors. There's a growing demand for skilled workers. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that if you want to decent paying job that you're likely to be able to hold onto, to switch to a field that is in demand.

  • @Christoph908
    @Christoph9087 жыл бұрын

    More of such Video...please!!!!