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Good books on trade policies
Jason, a loyal MR reader, asks me in an email:
What is a good economic history of commerce and trade? I'm looking for a book, preferably recent, with lots of historical examples of what trade policies can do. It would be a bonus if it integrated theory in with the examples, but that isn't necessary. I'd also prefer a book written by an economist rather than a historian, since historians tend to get their theory wrong. Rosenberg's How the West Grew Rich comes to mind, but I wonder about other examples.
I say "Ask and ye shall receive." You could try William J. Bernstein's new A Splendid Exchange: How Trade Shaped the World. Readers, do you have other suggestions?
Posted by Tyler Cowen on March 14, 2008 at 06:34 AM in History | Permalink
Comments
The book on trade and commerce that can simply mesmerize you is Fernand Braudel's "The Perspective of the World: Civilization and Capitalism 15Th-18th Century". Volume 2 "The Wheels of Commerce" is certainly fully packed with "lots of historical examples" and clear explanations of what "trade policies can do". The only thing that this examples and explanations are related to 15-th - 18th century world. But I guess it's a great thing to start with.
Posted by: Hukuta at Mar 14, 2008 8:55:51 AM
Findlay and O'Rourke's Power and Plenty.
http://www.amazon.com/Power-Plenty-Millennium-Princeton-Economic/dp/069111854X/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1205499875&sr=8-1
Posted by: alexandre delaigue at Mar 14, 2008 9:05:58 AM
Braudel's work is interesting as history but not very impressive theoretically. When he ventures too far from history and tries for analysis, things go downhill fast. I would guess it is exactly the kind of work by a non-economist that Jason finds wanting.
Posted by: crabby patty at Mar 14, 2008 10:18:07 AM
Ah, facts. Always getting in the way of beautiful theory.
Posted by: Dael the Historian at Mar 14, 2008 10:42:08 AM
Institutions and the Path to the Modern Economy: Lessons from Medieval Trade, by Avner Greif.
Great theory integration, though if you're looking for modern trade policies then it only lays the foundation.
Posted by: Chris Milroy at Mar 14, 2008 11:25:33 AM
I just read Pietra Rizzoli's "The Travels of a T-Shirt in the Global Economy: An Economist Examines the Markets, Power, and Politics of World Trade" and it was amazingly great. Just a model of clarity and real on-the-ground reportage. Trade and development history are deftly woven (if you'll forgive the expression) throughout, especially with respect to apparels and textiles, which played a central role in the early growth of so many economies. You won't get much explicit theory, but you will get a vivid look at how things really work, which makes the theory plainer than anything else could.
Posted by: Dan at Mar 14, 2008 11:35:01 AM
Douglas Irwin's Against the Tide: an Intellectual History of Free Trade examines the historical evolution of the idea of free trade alongside the expansion of trade in the wake of the industrial revolution. Highly recommended.
Posted by: Sturt at Mar 14, 2008 1:12:58 PM
Ah, history. So much easier to feel superior when you keep your assumptions unspecified.
Posted by: mike at Mar 14, 2008 3:36:02 PM
Excuse me, I should have used "theories" instead of "assumptions." The idea that there are "facts" without "theory" is absurd.
Posted by: mike at Mar 14, 2008 3:42:54 PM
James Bovard book, "The Fair Trade Fraud" written in the early 90s exposes the hypocritsy of our government on the trade issue.
http://www.jimbovard.com/Fair%20Trade%20Fraud%20Intro.htm
Posted by: Richard A. at Mar 14, 2008 4:14:30 PM
Correction: The author of the T-shirt book is Pietra Rivoli, not Rizzoli. Sorry.
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