ForumsWEPRFree Trade vs. Protectionism

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Maverick4
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Maverick4
6,800 posts
Peasant

Free Trade explanation

Protectionism explanation

What do you think? Should a state persue Free Trade or Protectionism as an economic policy?

Some ideas before posting:

-What are the affects of Free Trade/Protectionism on the enacting state?

-What does Free Trade/Protectionism do to poorer countries? To richer countries?

-Does Free Trade/Protectionism increase or decrease labor in the enacting state?

Have fun, and keep the debate clean.

  • 6 Replies
loloynage2
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loloynage2
4,206 posts
Peasant

I don't think, we, as humans, are mature enough to have as much freedom as getting free trade. We are like kids and we need order. But not too much, or it will get very dull in the varity of traders and trades if only the richest could afford the taxes, fees and so on. Also, if it's too regulated then it's certain that some merchandise will become illegal sooner or later.

Armed_Blade
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Armed_Blade
1,482 posts
Shepherd

Wait, by 'State' are you referring to the States we have in the USA? Or by 'State' are you referring to national countries?

Maverick4
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Maverick4
6,800 posts
Peasant

Or by 'State' are you referring to national countries?


State, noun, any sovereign nation. Which would include the US.
Sheppard007
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Sheppard007
237 posts
Nomad

I think that we should have both if them, kind of like a mixed economy, but we should be leaning on the free trade side because it can greatly help economies and witthout free trade, items for consumers would be very limited, because of no import. Plus, without free market, nothing would be made in China anymore.

FireflyIV
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FireflyIV
3,224 posts
Nomad

Hmm. I smell a homework thread, but I'll give a very basic summary of my thoughts. Protectionism is a dead duck because if you subsidise exports and tax imports, then it causes a domino effect. If everyone did it to each other, trade is dead. It's one of the main reasons the Great Depression lasted as long as it did.

NoNameC68
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NoNameC68
5,043 posts
Shepherd

I don't think, we, as humans, are mature enough to have as much freedom as getting free trade. We are like kids and we need order.


This quote confuses me. If humans need order because they aren't mature enough, then who decides what "order" is? Humans? If we allow someone to tell us what to do, as a way to maintain order, is the person telling us what to do not human themselves? Are they, who have power, some how more mature than everyone else?

I imagine a class room of 2nd graders with no teacher, where the kids elect another 2nd grader to teach the class, even though the 2nd grader is no smarter than his peers.
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