Applied Economics

freighter ship

Controversies around international trade are not new. Even in the late 19th century, Americans were concerned about the effect of imports on our domestic prosperity, opportunity, and security. Henry George addressed these concerns directly in Protection or Free Trade: An Examination of the Tariff Question, with Especial regard to the Interests of Labor. Many of today’s issues are remarkably similar to those of George’s time, but we’ll also discuss off-shoring, near-shoring, globalization, slobalization (a slowing or reversing of globalization), quotas and sanctions, geo-strategy and other modern concerns.

This course requires familiarity with the main points of Progress and Poverty, whether learned through our course or elsewhere.