More generally, standard economic theory does not say that everyone will be better-off as a result of trade liberalization, only that the winners could compensate the losers. They could take a portion of their gains, give it to the losers and everyone could be better-off. But, of course, the winners, which in much of America are the very well-off, haven’t compensated the losers; indeed, some have been arguing that to compete in the new world of globalization requires cutbacks in government spending, including programs for the poor. The losers then lose doubly.
Stiglitz actually goes on to write that free trade can in some cases make everyone worse off--contrary to trade theory. Free trade can expose people and companies to greater risk, for example.
Policy Innovations has just published Part Two of a trade policy roundtable in which specialists Susan Aaronson, Sherman Katz, Frank Lavin, and Thea Lee debate the future of U.S. commercial policy. Check it out here.
1 comment:
Globalization is a very important process, but it can not be taken as a Development Strategy, which is what developing countries need in a specific way.Developed countries want to impose their policies and rules for their advantage, creating more problems for less developed countries.The latter have different objectives of those that had developed nations in the past, concerning poverty, efficient use of natural resources, environmental management and employment generation, as well as population control and political stability.
Globalization creates opportunities but at the same time mantains the statu quo of rich and poor.
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