Transcript Trade: Free or Coerced?

Trade: Free or Coerced?
Presentation copyright ©1997, 1998, 1999 by
Barry and Deborah Brownstein
An Ethical Dimension
Is a legal action always a moral or ethical
one?
 Coerce: 1. To restrain or dominate by
nullifying individual will 2. To compel to an
act or choice 3. To enforce by force or threat
 Can monetary and ethical questions be
separated?
 Does an ‘ethical’ decision conflict with your
‘best interests’?

Assumptions Underlying
Barriers To Trade
Coercion is acceptable
 The market can be ‘managed’
 some countries cannot compete
 us vs. them thinking
– little understanding of specialization
– little respect for connectedness
– win-lose model of the economy
 a static, materialistic view of the world

Effects of Trade Barriers
By reducing specialization the standard of
living is reduced
 by hampering the market process the
economy grows at a slower rate
 discrimination in employment increases
 threatens world peace
 by promoting substantive law, trade barriers
undermine the ‘Rule of Law’

The Tough Questions
How about the displaced workers?
 How about other countries that have ‘unfair’
trade barriers?
 How about (insert your question)?
