EBOOK
About
Douglas A. Irwin is the John French Professor of Economics at Dartmouth College. His books include Peddling Protectionism (Princeton), Trade Policy Disaster, and Clashing over Commerce.
An updated look at global trade and why it remains as controversial as ever
Free trade is always under attack, more than ever in recent years. The imposition of numerous U.S. tariffs in 2018, and the retaliation those tariffs have drawn, has thrust trade issues to the top of the policy agenda. Critics contend that free trade brings economic pain, including plant closings and worker layoffs, and that trade agreements serve corporate interests, undercut domestic environmental regulations, and erode national sovereignty. Why are global trade and agreements such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership so controversial? Does free trade deserve its bad reputation? In Free Trade under Fire, Douglas Irwin sweeps aside the misconceptions that run rampant in the debate over trade and gives readers a clear understanding of the issues involved. In its fifth edition, the book has been updated to address the sweeping new policy developments under the Trump administration and the latest research on the impact of trade. "A wealth of reporting, both of trade-theory debates and of recent political battles in America over trade. . . . If [Free Trade under Fire does] not change trade sceptics' minds, it is hard to think what else would."-The Economist "[Irwin] sets out most of the antitrade claims one by one . . . and then marshals the evidence to show why it just ain't so. . . . Compelling [and] cogent."-Brink Lindsey, Wall Street Journal "[Irwin] successfully parries nearly all arguments leveled against free trade by its critics, and does so in an engaging style."-Gene Epstein, Barron's "Vigorous and persuasive. . . . [Irwin] largely demonstrates that most of the charges against free trade do not stand up under serious empirical scrutiny."-Richard Cooper, Foreign Affairs
An updated look at global trade and why it remains as controversial as ever
Free trade is always under attack, more than ever in recent years. The imposition of numerous U.S. tariffs in 2018, and the retaliation those tariffs have drawn, has thrust trade issues to the top of the policy agenda. Critics contend that free trade brings economic pain, including plant closings and worker layoffs, and that trade agreements serve corporate interests, undercut domestic environmental regulations, and erode national sovereignty. Why are global trade and agreements such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership so controversial? Does free trade deserve its bad reputation? In Free Trade under Fire, Douglas Irwin sweeps aside the misconceptions that run rampant in the debate over trade and gives readers a clear understanding of the issues involved. In its fifth edition, the book has been updated to address the sweeping new policy developments under the Trump administration and the latest research on the impact of trade. "A wealth of reporting, both of trade-theory debates and of recent political battles in America over trade. . . . If [Free Trade under Fire does] not change trade sceptics' minds, it is hard to think what else would."-The Economist "[Irwin] sets out most of the antitrade claims one by one . . . and then marshals the evidence to show why it just ain't so. . . . Compelling [and] cogent."-Brink Lindsey, Wall Street Journal "[Irwin] successfully parries nearly all arguments leveled against free trade by its critics, and does so in an engaging style."-Gene Epstein, Barron's "Vigorous and persuasive. . . . [Irwin] largely demonstrates that most of the charges against free trade do not stand up under serious empirical scrutiny."-Richard Cooper, Foreign Affairs