What Does Free Trade Lead To?
Thursday September 4, 2008
I have been thinking a great deal lately about the issue of free trade; specifically how greatly the views of economists and the general public differ. I believe both groups get it wrong in some ways...
Read more in: What Does Free Trade Lead To? I would love to know what you think about the issue!
Read more in: What Does Free Trade Lead To? I would love to know what you think about the issue!
Comments
I agree there are no free trade agreements.
What seems to be off the free trade balance sheet and unaccounted for by economists are the expenses that communities incur when they have to live with the personal and environmental damage of pollution, broken bodies and families from unsafe industry practices, and failed social structures from political leaders avarice and greed.
Free trade agreements focus on easing financial transactions while these other issues are left silent. Without addressing these costs in our agreements, they esentailly become hidden subsidies, or corporate deferred costs, bourne by the communities in which they occur. Developed countries make companies mitigate these damages, third world citizens have no recourse to address this inequality.
If concern for these social costs were also put on the negotiating table, then fair trade agreements would be more palatable to working folks, and corporate behavior definitely would be modified.