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Without a specific national strategic reason, why should poor people pay for manufacturers who cannot compete on the global scale? Why not let those manufactur

Without a specific national strategic reason, why should poor people pay for manufacturers who cannot compete on the global scale? Why not let those manufacturers naturally compete fairly or switch to something more useful for humanity rather than overpriced goods and/or services? Protectionism plays favorites within your general population and devalues your economy by taking away the need for people to provide added value.

sokoloff 4y ago
I generally agree with you, by the way. However, there is an argument that holds some water that protectionist policies do actually help some domestic workers. To completely ignore that makes the article read as quite biased to me.
miguelazo 4y ago
This is a laughable hypothetical with no basis in all of economic history. Every industrialized economy achieved their manufacturing prowess and prosperity through protectionism. It's unfortunate how few people recognize that, but then most people don't get beyond Econ 101 thinking. It's worse than if they had not learned any economics at all. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1032019.Bad_Samaritans https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1032019.Bad_Samaritans
- s1artibartfast 4y ago
  Protectionism helps you progress up the economic ladder of manufacturing Goods and services. What I think is a lot less clear is how it benefits you once you have a well-developed economy.
  - miguelazo 4y ago
    The Swiss seem to be doing quite well.
leereeves 4y ago
> Why not let those manufacturers naturally compete fairly It's not a fair competition if local manufacturers are subject to regulations that foreign manufacturers aren't. And if you like high wages for workers, environmental protections, product safety, and the other benefits of regulation, then you need local manufacturers who can be required to provide those things. Why should we participate in a race to the bottom competing over who can pay the lowest wages and dispose of hazardous waste for the lowest cost?

sokoloff 4y ago

I generally agree with you, by the way. However, there is an argument that holds some water that protectionist policies do actually help some domestic workers. To completely ignore that makes the article read as quite biased to me.

miguelazo 4y ago

This is a laughable hypothetical with no basis in all of economic history. Every industrialized economy achieved their manufacturing prowess and prosperity through protectionism. It's unfortunate how few people recognize that, but then most people don't get beyond Econ 101 thinking. It's worse than if they had not learned any economics at all. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1032019.Bad_Samaritans https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1032019.Bad_Samaritans

s1artibartfast 4y ago
Protectionism helps you progress up the economic ladder of manufacturing Goods and services. What I think is a lot less clear is how it benefits you once you have a well-developed economy.
- miguelazo 4y ago
  The Swiss seem to be doing quite well.

leereeves 4y ago

> Why not let those manufacturers naturally compete fairly It's not a fair competition if local manufacturers are subject to regulations that foreign manufacturers aren't. And if you like high wages for workers, environmental protections, product safety, and the other benefits of regulation, then you need local manufacturers who can be required to provide those things. Why should we participate in a race to the bottom competing over who can pay the lowest wages and dispose of hazardous waste for the lowest cost?