Chapter 20 Flashcards
Most governments accept the proposition that a relatively ___ flow of international trade is desirable.
free
What is a tariff?
It is a tax that is applied on imports of goods or services
What are non-tariff barriers?
They are restrictions other than tariffs designed to reduce imports
What does free trade encourage all countries to do?
It encourages them to specialize in producing products in which they have a comparative advantage
What does world specialization maximize?
It maximizes world production and maximizes average world living standards
When does a country engage in trade protection?
When it implements government policy that interferes with free trade to protect domestic firms and workers from foreign competition
Why is diversification important?
It is important because, for a very small country, specializing in the production of only a few products might involve risks that the country does not want to take - technology may render the basic product obsolete, swings in world prices lead to large swings in national income
Social and distributional concerns my lead to the rational adoption of what kind of policies?
Protectionist policies
What is the cost of protectionist policies?
A reduction in the country’s average living standards
What can large countries do that small countries cannot in terms of improving their terms of trade?
They can levy tariffs on some imported goods in order to increase their national income
How can a country potentially increase its national income?
By protecting infant industries and by subsidizing “strategic” firms
How can the protection of infant industries and the subsidization of “strategic” firms backfire?
It can backfire as such policies can end up being redistribution from consumers and taxpayers to domestic firms, without any benefit to overall living standards
What are the 4 sample arguments frequently heard in political debates concerning international trade?
- Keep the money at home
- Protect against low-wage foreign labour
- Exports are good; imports are bad
- Create domestic jobs
What do tariffs do?
Imposes costs on domestic consumers
Generates benefits for domestic producers
Generates revenue for the government
What is the overall net effect of tariffs?
It is negative