preview

Governmental Influence on Trade

Better Essays
Open Document

Chapter SEVEN governmentAL INFLUENCE ON TRADE OBJECTIVES • To realize the rationales for government policies that enhance and restrict trade • To interpret the effects of pressure groups on trade policies • To understand the comparison of protectionist rationales used in high-income countries with those used in low-income countries’ economies • To comprehend the potential and actual effects of governmental intervention on the free flow of trade • To understand the major means by which trade is restricted and regulated • To grasp the business uncertainties and business opportunities created by governmental trade policies Chapter Overview A government’s political objectives are sometimes at odds with its economic …show more content…

[Note Fig. 7.1.] III. ECONOMIC RATIONALES FOR GOVERNMENTAL INTERVENTION Government intervention in the trade process may be either economic or noneconomic in nature. [See Table 7.1.] A. Unemployment Persistent unemployment pushes many groups to call for protectionism; one of the most effective is organized labor. By limiting imports, local jobs are retained as firms and consumers are forced to purchase domestically produced goods and services. However, unless the protectionist country is relatively small, such measures usually do little to limit unemployment. On the other hand, they may result in a decline in export-related jobs because of (i) price increases for components or (ii) lower incomes abroad. Further, such measures are likely to lead to retaliation unless either the protectionist or the affected country is relatively small. Thus, governments must carefully balance the costs of higher prices with the costs of unemployment and the displaced production that would result from freer trade when enacting such measures. B. Infant-Industry Argument First presented by Alexander Hamilton in 1792, the infant-industry argument holds that a government should temporarily shield emerging industries in which the country may ultimately possess a comparative advantage from international competition until

Get Access