Explaining Protectionism Support: The Role of Economic Factors

Abstract

We find that individuals’ opinions concerning protectionist policies match with how their revenue could be affected in the medium or long term by trade liberalisation in line with predictions of the comparative advantage models. An adverse macroeconomic context (large increase in the unemployment rate or inflation rate) increases protectionist attitudes, thus reflecting that people do not trust that free trade will lead to lower prices or create jobs despite trade theory optimism. People share a mercantilist view of trade since more imports increase protectionism support, while people positively value exports, especially in small countries. Regarding policy measures, while protectionist measures do not influence protectionism support in general, easy access to exports reduces people’s support for protectionism.

Understanding Chinese nationalism: Does location matter?

“…“chauvinism”), economic protectionism , and cultural protectionism . In distinguishing patriotism from attitudes of national superiority, we join the likes of Bekhuis, Meuleman, and Lubbers (2013, p. 1043), Melgar, Milgram‐Baleix, and Rossi (2013, p. 3), and Sinkkonen (2013), all of whom—while varying in specific word choices—recognize the related but separable dimensions of pride (a.k.a. patriotism) and superiority (a.k.a.…”

“…Others have treated versions of protectionism as conceptually distinct from—although theoretically linked to—nationalism (Bekhuis, Meuleman, and Lubbers 2013; Gellner 2008, p. 105; Melgar, Milgram‐Baleix, and Rossi 2013). Our decision to consider protectionism as dimension(s) of nationalism is grounded in the underlying motivation for protectionism: advocacy for protecting the sovereignty of one's own nation‐state against threatening foreign intrusions resulting from international marketization (paraphrased from Baughn and Buchanan 2001, p. 5, as applied to cultural protectionism).…”

The Comparison and Contrast Between the Protectionism and Free Trade in England

“…In 1790 Alexander Hamilton proposed a term called "Infant Industry," which refers to a newly-established industry in its early stage of development. Such an industry lacks the experience, customer group, and size to compete effectively with other sectors [18]. In case of bankruptcy, protection from the government needs to ensure the industry can go through the challenging "infant" period until it matures in the market [18].…”

“…Such an industry lacks the experience, customer group, and size to compete effectively with other sectors [18]. In case of bankruptcy, protection from the government needs to ensure the industry can go through the challenging "infant" period until it matures in the market [18]. Moreover, particularly to domestic individuals, the losers in the commercial competition are more identifiable than gainers, meaning they are easier to capture attention and sympathy, creating political pressure emerged from the public, then protectionism follows [19].…”

Caution with deviant neighbours: Explaining degrees of non-tariff protectionism with spatial analysis

“…When determining the criteria for discouraging the import of a particular product, researchers do not get bogged down with materialist self-interest variables (Melgar et al, 2013) such as wage increases after proposed bans on foreign imports that would push down the prices of locally produced goods (Auer, Fischer, 2010;Fajgelbaum, Khandelwal, 2016;Hays et al, 2005;Mayda, Rodrik, 2005;Scheve, Slaughter, 2001). Economic sociology regards consumer actions in relation to their social context (Granovetter, 1985, p. 487), while the substantivist approach to economic anthropology underlines variability in reaction to similar conditions in different societies (Gudeman, 1986, p. 38;Prattis, 1982).…”