(no subject)

[gunslnger.livejournal.com]

The Good Krugman

Krugman's basic premise throughout the book is that free and globalized trade is not something a wealthy country such as the United States should fear, but rather something it should embrace. Protectionist fears of free trade such as "massive unemployment" and "trade deficits" are unjustified according to Krugman...

Even though this is about an older book, it's good to see that he doesn't always get it wrong. :) But it is funny to see him argue almost completely the opposite viewpoint as now:

He goes on to state that "the productivity of the average American worker is determined by a complex array of factors, most of them unreachable by any government policy." Surprising remarks indeed, coming from Krugman. To top off his embrace of market efficiency over government policy, he even goes on to acknowledge that government intervention to improve competitiveness can ultimately lead to "misallocations of resources."

I'm not sure how he reconciles this observation with his present recommendations for a government policy of intervention.

Comments

[pastorlenny.livejournal.com]

An argument that the government cannot manage "the productivity of the average American worker" is not an argument against intervention altogether. There are other reasons to intervene -- for example, to get more Americans working.

Likewise, an argument against protectionism is not an argument against intervention altogether. There are other reasons to intervene -- for example, to use trade as an instrument of foriegn policy.

[the-rukh.livejournal.com]

Nuance is a synonym for COMMUNISM you communist.

[prog-expat.livejournal.com]

"But it is funny to see him argue almost completely the opposite viewpoint as now..."

Except that's not what he's doing. Pop Internationalism argues against a particular type of intervention, not intervention per se.

So, this is a review...

[sophia-sadek.livejournal.com]

I don't suppose you have read any of Mr. Krugman's works. This posting seems to be a rehash of a review that was written by someone else.