The Economics and Ideology of Free Trade

The Economics and Ideology of Free Trade makes an important contribution to the debate on globalization by providing much needed intellectual and historical perspective on the issue of Free Trade versus Protection.The book does so by reviewing and integrating doctrinal history and past policy debates. Firstly the book deals with the doctrinal evolution of the economics of free trade from the mercantilists onwards (including the reaction against classical economics by Friedrich List and the American national economists). It then goes on to critically examine the debates, policies and events that mark over two centuries of fierce but intellectually stimulating controversy over free trade and protection (including the debate on the Corn Laws, the British Tariff Reform Controversy 1903, and Keynes on Protection). In this stimulating and highly informative volume, the author summarizes and encapsulates a vast amount of material in a singularly economical and succinct manner that will appeal to academics and students interested in the history of economic thought, international economics, economic history and also international relations.