Customer Reviews

Against the Tide

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I like this book because it is very interesting and informative. I began reading it for pleasure, but by the time I was half way finished, I was sure of its serious nature and had decided to adopt it as a required reading in the seminar that I teach on the economic impact of globalization. The author succeeds in presenting the right mix of theory and history with sufficient analysis. It is well researched and very well organized. It should prove as interesting to the general reader as it is informative for the academics. However, its treatment of classical economists is far superior to the section dealing with contemporary writeres on free trade. Hopefully, in the second edition the author will remedy this shortcomeing.

Fantastic analysis of international free trade and the coming of age of economic globalization. Irwin is a diamond in the rough when it comes to economic author. He writes in such a way that is fairly easy to understand, all the while not comprimising the quality of the material. Granted, any previous knowledge of Economics is obviously beneficial to the reader, but in no way an absolute must.

Second, Mr. Preston Enright above seems to oppose corporate subsidies and welfare. Well, Mr Enright, so do the most staunch defenders of free-trade and capitalism: libertarians. I would not so much call myself a Libertarian but, like yourself, am also ardently opposed to corporate welfare, as it places an unwarranted burden on taxpayers and forces them to involuntarily support a cause, whereas they should only support the firm with their purchases from that corporation. Corporate welfare is, indeed, a rotten policy enacted but liberals and conservatives alike that, just as other forms of subsidies and welfare, create an unhealthy and unwarranted dependency on Washington (or wherever the largesse may originate), artificially lower prices, discourages innovation and efficiency, and ultimately harms the taxpayer and the consumer. Preston Enright is correct that this type of 'free trade' (not free to the mass of those who should benefit: the consumer) is only beneficial to the management and executives. Although, I'm guessing by his scattered and fiery writing style that he would be opposed to the free market, welfare or no welfare.

Economics is one of those subjects on which everyone has an opinion but few have much knowledge. Free trade, in particular, suffers from this opinion/knowledge gap. Reviewer Enright provides a good demonstration of this affliction. Had he taken the time to read the entire book, rather than just skimming the last few pages looking for some commentary on the politicization of free trade, Enright might have learned something about the benefits of free trade.

Irwin's text provides an excellent overview of how economic thinking has over the years come to accept and promote free trade. Unfortunately, today's free trade debate is typically not framed by such informed discussion, but rather is shaped by the protectionist rantings of critics like Enright.

Professor Irwin writes a stunning history of the thought on international trade ranging from the early greek philosophers' views on trade relations with neighboring cities, through the English mercantilist thought of the 17th and 18th centuries to the recent literature on strategic trade theory. While covering such a broad sweep of historical thought the book loses neither focus nor interest. At just over 200 pages, and non-technical in language, the book is extremely accessible. It is a must read for any student of international trade, whether casual or professional. Professor Irwin has published widely in the area of the political economy of international trade, among others. His writings include several other books on international trade and political economy more suited to the professional economist which are also highly recommended.

Preeminent economist and NPR poster-boy Paul Krugman's review of this book is online: http://web.mit.edu/krugman/www/irwin.html

The book is dense and that will scare off some. But the insight that Irwin provides us; that all the arguments we hear today against free trade are hundreds and even thousdands of years old, makes the reader want to examine the roots of these perspectives even more.

If these are indeed patterns of history, than how do we change the minds of leaders, and get them focussed all in the same direction?

Read: Competitive Advantage of Nations by Michael Porter;and Plowing the Sea by Michael Fairbanks and Stace Lindsay

Occasionally, we are contacted by business people who are not as yet convinced of the importance of international trade on foreign economies and the future of their company. They still think of exporting as an option that they can put aside until "things slow down a bit" and they have more time. We suggest to them that they read this publication from start to finish. It gives them an exciting new outlook on exporting. In fact, several of them start investigating foreign markets almost immediately after finishing the book. Although "academic" at times, it is very well written. We recommend it for serious exporters and especially for those who are still pondering the need for their company to introduce their products and services into world markets.

Free trade is great when you're rich and powerful enough to ram it down the throat of other nations. The multinationals, who benefit from massive subsidies (aeronautics, computers, metallurgy, you name it) are more than happy to have members of the bought priesthood of academia distill fantasies about the joys of the alleged "free market." Not a word in this book about the public subsidies that become private profits, with a huge military and growing prison-industrial-complex for the millions of people who are superfluous to the plans being made (undemocratically, of course) in Geneva and Bonn. Corporate tyranny and its servants are destroying the environment, labor protections, the public sphere, and cultural diversity. Goebbels would be impressed.