Because of international trade, the U.S. has had access to the world’s talent, resources, and products. Alternatively, trade has hollowed out our manufacturing sector, crushed jobs, destroyed communities, and deepened inequality. The idea of free trade has always been controversial, but now there is a growing bipartisan consensus favoring protectionism. 

This course explores the arguments for and against free trade. Does it kill jobs? Benefit consumers? Threaten national security? Do tariffs help or hurt us? Are trade deficits bad? We will consider the economic and political implications of freetrade, paying particular attention to our trade relations with China.

This course will combine lecture with class discussions.