The Choice: A Fable of Free Trade and Protectionism

analytical Essay

875 words

Book Review: The Choice: A Fable of Free Trade and Protectionism In the acclaimed novel, The Choice: A Fable of Free Trade and Protectionism, author Russell Roberts, an economist and writer, tells a fictional story that enlightens readers to the wonders of the economic system. Russell provides an insightful, thought provoking story that illustrates protectionism and free trade, while making the concepts and arguments easy to comprehend. The story is told through dialogue with two main characters, David Ricardo, an 18th and 19th century economist and Ed Johnson, a CEO for a company that produces televisions. Johnson’s company is facing competition from an overseas Japanese company. Through the use of these characters, Russell shows how the economic system works. David Ricardo is illustrated as one of the early advocates for free trade. After his death, he returns to Earth to complete one final act, involving Ed Johnson. The Choice begins by following David Ricardo on his journey to heaven. At heaven’s entrance, Ricardo faces his judgment. The master of the gates does not allow him to pass because of his theory on free trade. Ricardo then presents a challenge that will prove his theory and allow him to enter his resting place. The master of the gates then challenges him to change the mind of Ed Johnson, a man who is for protectionism and wants to enact a tariff on Japanese televisions. Ricardo must persuade Johnson of his ideas, that it is more efficient for countries to produce more of what they are efficient at producing and import everything else, instead of producing items that they are not efficient in producing. Johnson is chosen as the man to intervene on because Ricardo sees a problem that Johnson is making. During the t... ... middle of paper ... ...nson realizes his responsibility in the economic system. He learns of the role that he plays in continuing the country’s economic success. The Choice: A Fable of Free Trade and Protectionism is a novel unlike others. It tells a fictional story, while be educational and informative. This lends itself to appealing to both the logical and emotional side of the reader. The reader is logically stimulated through the education of the economic system, while also emotionally appealed to throughout the story of David and Ed and Ed’s realization. From this novel, the reader can learn more about the economic system, and how it is applied to life. The reader is able to enjoy the narrative along with learn the principles that are introduced by Roberts. Works Cited Roberts, Russell. (2006). The Choice: A Fable of Free Trade and Protectionism. New Jersey: Prentice Hall.

In this essay, the author

Reviews russell roberts' acclaimed novel, the choice: a fable of free trade and protectionism, which illustrates protectionism and free trade while making concepts and arguments easy to comprehend.
Analyzes how russell shows how the economic system works through dialogue with two main characters, david ricardo, an 18th and 19th century economist, and ed johnson, ceo for a company that produces televisions.
Narrates how david ricardo is able to change the mind of ed johnson, who is for protectionism and wants to enact a tariff on japanese televisions.

Reviews russell roberts' acclaimed novel, the choice: a fable of free trade and protectionism, which illustrates protectionism and free trade while making concepts and arguments easy to comprehend.
Analyzes how russell shows how the economic system works through dialogue with two main characters, david ricardo, an 18th and 19th century economist, and ed johnson, ceo for a company that produces televisions.
Narrates how david ricardo is able to change the mind of ed johnson, who is for protectionism and wants to enact a tariff on japanese televisions.
Analyzes how roberts illustrates and convinces the reader that free trade is the way to be successful. he could have improved his argument by researching and including social responsibility.
Analyzes how roberts's argument and stance is made very clear. he is for free trade through his depiction of it in the tale.
Opines that new products must survive the market test, or no one will buy them. to keep jobs in place requires laws that stop dreams and economic change.
Analyzes how roberts explains the impact of free trade in such a persuasive way that it is difficult to argue.
Opines that evaluating this book is a simple thing to do. ed johnson asks david ricardo about dreams, which is worth highlighting for its power and thought-provoking ability.
Analyzes how the book centers around the importance of free trade and the destructiveness of protectionism. david ricardo is held responsible for changing ed johnson's mind.
Analyzes how the choice: a fable of free trade and protectionism appeals to both the logical and emotional side of the reader.
Analyzes how roberts' novel teaches the reader about the economic system and how it is applied to life.

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Free Trade Essay
opinion essay
Irish philosopher Edmund Burke once shared how “free trade is not based on utility but on justice”, so is this still the case, or has it changed over the years? In the 1930’s, countries competed against one another to raise trade barriers, which then created disputes. Left to themselves, disputes will continue to grow and end up to become conflicts, which could potentially lead to war. As a result, the first international organization known to prevent such catastrophe was called the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trades (GATT), which was formed in 1948 and signed by 23 countries to facilitate International trade. In 1995, GATT was replaced by another international organization now known as the World Trade Organization (WTO), which is based in Geneva and whose purpose is to “policy free trade agreements, settle trade disputes between government and organizes trade negotiations”. Today, the WTO is the only international organization that oversees the international rules of trade. It aims to have zero trade barriers, which allows countries to trade freely. Despite this, the WTO still has over 30,000 regulations that go against free trade. The question arises whether the WTO truly enforces justice and serve its purpose of effectively reducing tariffs equally for all countries, as well as abide by healthy and fair and regulations that prevent conflict and biasness, or does the WTO still base trade on the utility of developed countries/parties?
In this essay, the author
- Opines that the wto is the only international organization that oversees the international rules of trade.
- Explains that the wto regulates international trade to be free from tariffs, which helps rich countries export products, but deeply harms poor-developing countries that receive them.
- Concludes that the world trade organization favors the rich over the poor, arguing that trade is based more on utility, than justice.
- Opines that the wto is the only international organization that oversees the international rules of trade.
- Explains that the wto regulates international trade to be free from tariffs, which helps rich countries export products, but deeply harms poor-developing countries that receive them.
- Concludes that the world trade organization favors the rich over the poor, arguing that trade is based more on utility, than justice.
- Explains that developing countries such as the philippines lost about 710,000 jobs, and another 2 million by year 2000 due to trade liberation.
- Explains how the wto has biased rules that favor some parties more than others.
1128 words
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American Imperialism
analytical essay
New technology and the advent of mass production had so radically altered U.S. culture that capitalism and consumer markets came to been seen as synonymous with progress and civilization (Lears 202). The rise of industry resulted in rapid urbanization and an influx of immigrants seeking work opportunities in the burgeoning U.S. economy. Westward expansion on the continent was thus seen as imperative to provide cheap land for a growing population and room for the abundance of workers in the late 19th century (88). When the frontier was officially closed in 1890, American expansionists turned their attention to the establishment of foreign colonies and the creation of new markets to balance-out industrial overproduction (200, 201). Historian Jackson Lears writes that American capitalists sought “free access to foreign markets, raw materials and investment opportunities” (201). Such access gained legal justification through the 1904 Roosevelt Corollary to the Munroe Doctrine, which claimed U.S. interventionist rights in any nation deemed “unstable,” in est, resis...
In this essay, the author
- Explains that nationalism was a prevalent ideology worldwide by the late 1800s, and that imperialism necessitated an american national identity, which revolved around the virtues of capitalism and democracy.
- Analyzes how the rise of industry led to rapid urbanization and an influx of immigrants seeking work opportunities in the burgeoning u.s. economy.
- Analyzes how the extension of u.s. capitalism was integral to imperialistic motives, while public rhetoric stressed a moral duty to spread democracy.
- Explains that nationalism was a prevalent ideology worldwide by the late 1800s, and that imperialism necessitated an american national identity, which revolved around the virtues of capitalism and democracy.
- Analyzes how the rise of industry led to rapid urbanization and an influx of immigrants seeking work opportunities in the burgeoning u.s. economy.
- Analyzes how the extension of u.s. capitalism was integral to imperialistic motives, while public rhetoric stressed a moral duty to spread democracy.
- Analyzes how the notion of paternalism, of a masculine father-figure helping infantile nations transform into developed, capitalist democracies, shaped u.s. foreign occupation and became an aspect of american national identity.
- Explains that while capitalism, democracy, and masculinity were aspects of american national identity, many americans believed that only the white race could fully understand and apply these principles.
- Analyzes how the spanish-american war reunited north and south in an extension of empire fueled by a white national identity. wilson was aware of the importance of race in imperialism and denied territorial ambitions in the 1915 invasion of haiti.
- Explains that while haitians practiced local subsistence farming, white capitalists viewed this as a backward race's failure to adopt mass production.
- Argues that understanding u.s. foreign policy in the late 19th to early 20th century requires that one acknowledge the greed and racism that constructed american national identity.
1144 words
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The American Reaction to Richard Cobden: An Economy of Fear
analytical essay
The economic concept of protectionism dates back to Adam Smith’s idea of comparative and absolute advantage. The country with the ability to produce the same amount of a good or service with fewer resources than another country has the absolute advantage. However, if the other country has a lower opportunity cost of producing that same good or service, they have the comparative advantage. Smith argued that “If a foreign country can supply us with a commodity cheaper than we ourselves can make it, better buy it of them with some part of the produce of our own industry employed in a way in which we have some advantage” (Smith, 1904, IV.2.12).
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how the paper will explore the free trade beliefs of richard cobden and show that americans who rejected his ideas did so out of ignorance and fear.
- Explains that trade liberalization in great britain signaled an era of intense change in the european economy.
- Explains how richard cobden formed the anti-corn laws league in response to the corn laws. he advocated for free trade so that consumers could have access to corn at a fair price.
- Analyzes how the paper will explore the free trade beliefs of richard cobden and show that americans who rejected his ideas did so out of ignorance and fear.
- Explains that trade liberalization in great britain signaled an era of intense change in the european economy.
- Explains how richard cobden formed the anti-corn laws league in response to the corn laws. he advocated for free trade so that consumers could have access to corn at a fair price.
- Explains that the 1860s were a period of great unrest in the united states. the antithesis to anglophobia was anglophilia.
- Explains that the cobden club was founded in 1866 by british supporters of his free trade mantra. it appealed to many americans recovering from the shock of war.
- Explains accominotti, flandreau, and palen's views on trade liberalization in the nineteenth century.
- Explains that the cobden club held its inaugural meeting at the star.
1607 words
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The Impact Of European Imperialism
analytical essay
According to them, the idea of free trade was the foundation for the expansion of influence into foreign areas like Asia and Africa. In essence, informal empires acted as the basis for nineteenth century European Imperialism. Not only did it remind powerful colonizers of the power of economic manipulation, but it instilled a greed within the minds of colonizers that motivated them to seek out more land and resources. The colonizer mindset that was so prevalent in the era of Cortes and Columbus maintained its influence in the 1800s, as well, leading to the formal empirical rule that shaped the modern era. Robinson and Gallagher’s theory holds much significance as it directly affects how territories are divided amongst countries and how government systems are built around the
In this essay, the author
- Opines that robinson and gallagher's article regarding informal empires is correct in claiming that they played a large part in european imperialism.
- Explains how the victorians sought to expand their sphere of influence in asia and africa. the first and second opium war and china's struggle with great britain illustrate how informal empires and the power of manipulation can change the fate of a country.
- Analyzes how britain's introduction of opium into china was an effective and successful strategy because it enabled great britain to control trade and policies within the asian country.
- Opines that robinson and gallagher's article regarding informal empires is correct in claiming that they played a large part in european imperialism.
- Explains how the victorians sought to expand their sphere of influence in asia and africa. the first and second opium war and china's struggle with great britain illustrate how informal empires and the power of manipulation can change the fate of a country.
- Analyzes how britain's introduction of opium into china was an effective and successful strategy because it enabled great britain to control trade and policies within the asian country.
- Analyzes how robinson and gallagher stressed the equal importance of informal and formal empires and their impact on history. britain gained valuable knowledge from their success in china and showed the europeans that there is a vast amount of land that they can conquer.
- Explains that new imperialism began in the last quarter of the nineteenth century when european powers began to pursue a structured (more formal) political control over other areas.
- Explains how european imperialism proved that the european powers were a major force whose hunger couldn't be satiated.
- Analyzes how informal empires provided a mental foundation for colonizers in the nineteenth century. they used this momentum to repeatedly overtake foreign lands and implement formal institutions within other countries.
- Analyzes how robinson and gallagher claim that informal empires, which were direct results of economic forces, were overlooked during the era of european imperialism.
1344 words
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Critiquing and Repairing Free Trade under NAFTA
analytical essay
On January 1, 1994, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the free trade policy linking the economies of Canada, the United States, and Mexico was officially implemented. Over the past decade, the policy has evoked a firestorm of debate involving neoliberal advocates, mercantilist critics, and radical critics, all of whom analyze and critique NAFTA in an effort to determine the success of free trade. Since NAFTA policies are evaluated by political economists with differing ideologies, the success of NAFTA’s first decade remains in question. After a decade, which economists herald NAFTA as a success and who disregards it as a failure? Which set of economic and political standards should be used to evaluate free trade? And ultimately, what policies should be implemeted in NAFTA’s second decade?
In this essay, the author
- Explains that radical critics are the third group of political economists attempting to accurately evaluate the first decade of nafta.
- Argues that the literature favors the overemphasis of nafta’s success in canada while marginalizing the far less impressive effects on mexican economy.
- Explains that mercantilist critics challenge the statistics presented by nafta’s neoliberal advocates because they believe that trade does create jobs, but the jobs they are referring to are service jobs.
- Explains that radical critics are the third group of political economists attempting to accurately evaluate the first decade of nafta.
- Argues that the literature favors the overemphasis of nafta’s success in canada while marginalizing the far less impressive effects on mexican economy.
- Explains that mercantilist critics challenge the statistics presented by nafta’s neoliberal advocates because they believe that trade does create jobs, but the jobs they are referring to are service jobs.
- Explains that globalization and open trade presents threats to less-educated workers' wages for two reasons.
- Argues that nafta's successes must be overestimated because mexican immigration has been on the rise in the past decade, suggesting that mexico’s economy is not as vibrant as neoliberals suggest.
- Argues that the free trade policy would further jeopardize the severe environmental degradation mexico faced pre-nafta.
- Explains mexico's efforts to strengthen and enforce environmental regulations after nafta, but domestic pollution threats and institutional difficulties remain. the principle obstacle preventing mexico from achieving higher environmental standards is their voluntary compliance program.
- Explains the institutional setbacks that hinder nafta's commitment to improving and protecting the environment. the border environmental cooperation commission (becc) and the north american development bank (nadbank) face similar organizational problems.
- Analyzes how the north american agreement on labor cooperation (naalc) was the most ambitious link between trade and labor rights ever implemented by human rights watch.
- Explains that under the naalc, when a labor violation occurs in one country and is reported to either of the other two nafta member states, those states have the right to investigate the violation.
- Argues that nafta's failure to improve basic human needs standards in mexico is a major problem.
- Analyzes how the third faction, radical critics, adds a whole new dimension to the debate.
- Concludes that nafta literature addresses countless strengths and weaknesses of free trade, but few articles propose solutions for its second decade.
- Argues that nafta has accomplished a number of goals in its first decade, yet there is still room for policy reform during the next decade.
- Argues that neoliberal advocates must grant that nafta's success through promotion of increased economic vitality in north america does not mean the free trade policy is immune to serious consequences.
- Explains that the eu-asean partnership suggests that trading blocs are beginning to understand the importance of working with rather than against each other in a global economy.
- Opines that tax incentives can be an effective deterrent against southern migration to protect domestic wages and job security.
- Argues that the third argument mercantilist critics make against nafta refers to the increase in immigrants in mexico which has seen explosive growth over the past decade.
- Argues that the diplomatic technique for reducing the influx of illegal immigrants would be adopting the policy reforms previously outlined.
- Opines that the lack of funding is a major hindrance to improving environmental conditions under nafta.
- Argues that the naaec and beca are in desperate need of reorganization. institutional barriers prevent the cec from fulfilling the goals outlined in the environmental side agreements of nafta.
- Opines that bush's plan to implement the ftaa, an extension of nafta to the entire western hemisphere, by 2005, fails to address mercantilist and radical concerns.
- Cites iritani, evelyn, "bush plan that critics call ‘nafta on steroids’ stalls."
- Explains that the north american free trade agreement (nafta) has evoked a firestorm of debate involving neoliberal advocates, mercantilist critics, and radicals.
- Argues that neoliberal advocates and their critics have different notions of success, which creates a narrow focus for evaluation and hinders policy making.
- Analyzes the conflict between neoliberal and mercantilist interpretations of free trade.
- Argues that the lack of incentives for reporting environmental and labor rights violations is not sufficient to warrant an individual filing a complaint under an extremely complex system.
- Concludes that if the united states wants other countries to follow a strict set of guidelines for free trade agreements, they must be willing to lead by example.
- Cites center for reflection, education, and action's study showing mexican maquiladora workers not able to meet basic needs on sweatshop wages. economic policy institute.
- Explains that free trade delivers more immigrants, not jobs. harrington, john, hufbauer, gary clyde, and jeffrey j. schott.
- Cites pastor, robert a., rothstein, jesse, and scott. nafta casualties: employment effects on men, women and minorities.
- Describes scott, robert, stracke, christian, the high price of free trade: nafta’s failure cost the united states jobs across the nation.
7264 words
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Assessing the Free Trade Debate
analytical essay
On October 4, 1988, Canada and the United States signed the Canada–United States Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The agreement phased out most tariffs and trade barriers between Canada and the United States over a 10 year period. Aditionally, it exporting reduced regulations, prohibited export taxes on energy, extended national treatment for US business operating in Canada and vice-versa, and created dispute settlement panels. The deal helped remove trade out of the growing protectionism among both US and Canadian politicians, while protecting Canadian “cultural, regional development and farm marketing boards.”
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how the free trade agreement phased out tariffs and trade barriers between canada and the united states over a 10 year period. it removed trade from the growing protectionism among both us and canadian politicians.
- Analyzes the political debate that developed over the implementation of the fta. the progressive conservatives in canada and president reagan the united states argued that the deal would be economically beneficial to both countries.
- Explains that the progressive conservatives were the main proponents of the fta. mulroney was against free trade, but he considered it a viable option, which fit his policy of finding "freer access to world markets for business."
- Analyzes how the free trade agreement phased out tariffs and trade barriers between canada and the united states over a 10 year period. it removed trade from the growing protectionism among both us and canadian politicians.
- Analyzes the political debate that developed over the implementation of the fta. the progressive conservatives in canada and president reagan the united states argued that the deal would be economically beneficial to both countries.
- Explains that the progressive conservatives were the main proponents of the fta. mulroney was against free trade, but he considered it a viable option, which fit his policy of finding "freer access to world markets for business."
- Explains the macdonald commission report on economic union and developments for canada, which claimed canada needed a fta to control tariffs and decrease protectionism.
- Explains that mulroney believed pursuing free trade was the best option, considering 80 percent of canadian exports, accounting for $95 billion in annual trade, was done with the us.
- Analyzes how mulroney used strong rhetoric to promote the agreement. he claimed free trade was the "most important economic initiative of the century."
- Explains that mulroney was convinced that the fta was the best course of action for canada, but not all canadian politicians agreed.
- Analyzes turner's argument that the fta would impair canadian sovereignty and have a profound social impact.
- Analyzes how turner argued that mulroney had "reduced us, i am sure, to a colony of the united states." turner claimed the fta could jeopardize "health care and the canadian pension plan, and hurt poor provinces."
- Explains that the liberals were not the only major party that opposed the fta. the new democratic party and its leader ed broadbent believed free trade would have a negative economic impact on canada.
- Analyzes how broadbent expressed concern that the fta would decrease canada's independence. he argued mulroney wanted to turn canada into a clone of the united states.
- Analyzes how broadbent advocated for a larger role of government in the economy. he wanted more control over foreign investment, an aggressive domestic industrial strategy, and nationalist energy policies.
1539 words
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The North American Free Trade Agreement
analytical essay
Roughly fifteen year ago the United States entered into an agreement with its neighboring countries Canada and Mexico. With the incarnation of this intercontinental free trade agreement; the United States acting as the conduit would not only increase trade productivity for itself but, allot its sister nations to the north and south the same advantages. The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is beneficial to America because, it encourages the expansion of job opportunities, abolishes taxes and tariffs that can restrict the flow of imports and exports, and supplies the States with goods and services at lower costs causing profits to increase exponentially.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the north american free trade agreement (nafta) is beneficial to america because it encourages the expansion of job opportunities, abolishes taxes and tariffs that can restrict the flow of imports and exports, and supplies the states with goods and services at lower costs.
- Explains that prior to nafta, the only trade agreement resembling it in north america was the canadian-united states free trade agreement (cusfta).
- Explains that nafta had a few unpublicized goals, including the need for the us to repair the damaged and strain political relations between itself and mexico.
- Explains that the north american free trade agreement (nafta) is beneficial to america because it encourages the expansion of job opportunities, abolishes taxes and tariffs that can restrict the flow of imports and exports, and supplies the states with goods and services at lower costs.
- Explains that prior to nafta, the only trade agreement resembling it in north america was the canadian-united states free trade agreement (cusfta).
- Explains that nafta had a few unpublicized goals, including the need for the us to repair the damaged and strain political relations between itself and mexico.
- Analyzes how ross perot, ralph nadar, and pat choate's campaigns against free trade were executed with a political agenda than any real concern for american jobs.
- Explains that president bill clinton added two amendments to counteract smear campaigns, the north american agreement on environmental cooperation (naaec) and the nafta.
- Analyzes how the clinton administration enacted another amendment to the already evolving nafta, namely the north american free trade agreement-transitional adjustment assistance (nafta-taa).
- Explains that tariffs are implemented to help develop economies whether they are infantile or advance states.
- Explains that nafta allowed trade between mexico, canada, and the united states to open up.
- Explains that nafta revisited. the peter g. peterson institute for international economics.
- Describes folsom, r. h., nafta and free trade in the americas in a nutshell.
- Explains hufbauer, g., nafta revisited achievements and chaiienges, washington, dc: peterson inst for intl economics.
- Cites the office of the united states trade representative's website for nafta: a decade of success.
- Explains that the oas foreign trade information system (sice) has a trade agreement with the north american free trade agreement.
- Explains the case against free trade: gatt, nafta, and the globalization of corporate power.
- Explains radcliffe, b., the basics of tariffs and trade barriers, investopedia.com.
1791 words
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A Literary Analysis of the Solutions Used in the Two Texts, Shooting an Elephant, and No Witchcraft for Sale
analytical essay
Many times in life, people get put into situations in which they have to make some kind of solution to a problem that they are faced with. One example of this is when I was faced with the choice to either call the police or not when I spotted shoplifting in Washington D.C. just the other day. I was just standing there, when I noticed two women scooping stuff into their giant purses and then they ran out of a store. I was in so much shock that I couldn’t say anything; although after the incident happened, I had the choice of either calling the police or not. In relation, there are two texts in this section that deal with people that have to make a choice on making a solution to a problem. In the text, Shooting an Elephant, by George Orwell, the speaker is faced with the decision to shoot and kill a rampaging elephant. In the text, No Witchcraft for Sale, by Doris Lessing, the character Gideon is faced with the decision on whether to give the white scientists his medicinal theories that saved a boy from going blind. In both of the texts, Shooting an Elephant, and No Witchcraft for Sale, the solutions are either good or bad.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how people get put into situations where they have to make some kind of solution to a problem. in george orwell's shooting an elephant and no witchcraft for sale, the solutions are either good or bad
- Analyzes orwell's decision to shoot an elephant in burma as a solution to stop the rampaging.
- Analyzes how gideon in sale, by lessing, is faced with the decision to give the white scientists the medical knowledge that he knows that saves a little white boy from going blind due to snake venom in the eye.
- Analyzes how people get put into situations where they have to make some kind of solution to a problem. in george orwell's shooting an elephant and no witchcraft for sale, the solutions are either good or bad
- Analyzes orwell's decision to shoot an elephant in burma as a solution to stop the rampaging.
- Analyzes how gideon in sale, by lessing, is faced with the decision to give the white scientists the medical knowledge that he knows that saves a little white boy from going blind due to snake venom in the eye.
- Analyzes how gideon's solution in sale wasn't as violent as orwell’s in elephant.
- Concludes that there are good and bad solutions in life, including ones in the texts from this section of our text book.
658 words
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Abortion: Where is the option?
opinion essay
Pickert, Kate. “What Choice?.” Time 181.1 (2013): 40. MAS Ultra – School Edition. Web. 5
In this essay, the author
- Opines that abortion should be a safe, legal option for pregnant women when deciding the future of their unborn baby.
- Describes how jennie mccormack was arrested for taking a drug called ru-486, which is for women to use up to the 49th day after their last menstrual period.
- Narrates how a woman who had undergone an abortion was harassed by protesters, who accused her of being murderer. she was hooked up to an iv with medication, but the worst part was the pro-life group.
- Opines that abortion should be a safe, legal option for pregnant women when deciding the future of their unborn baby.
- Describes how jennie mccormack was arrested for taking a drug called ru-486, which is for women to use up to the 49th day after their last menstrual period.
- Narrates how a woman who had undergone an abortion was harassed by protesters, who accused her of being murderer. she was hooked up to an iv with medication, but the worst part was the pro-life group.
- Opines that making abortion legal in all states will provide scientists the opportunity to make it safer. the protests against it will stop and the women needing it won't have to hide behind things and be ashamed.
- Analyzes hass, nancy, "the next roe v. wade?." newsweek 158.25 (2011): 25.
- Opines that pickert, kate, “what choice?,” time 181.1 (2013): 40. mas ultra – school edition.
- Opines that the pro-life side of abortion is louder and more public about their opinions, and that if abortion became legal in all states, women would not have to hide in shame or be cast aside
764 words
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Analysis Of Social Change
analytical essay
Economists Leighton and Lopez were both students of James M. Buchanan, a pioneer of the public choice framework in economics. Buchanan succinctly described public choice in his essay Politics without Romance as “the economic theory of politics” or “the theory of government failure” as a response “to the theory of market failure” (Buchanan 45). When Buchanan uses the term economic theory, he is referring to the positive analysis of individuals interacting in markets. The center of economic analysis is exchange between individuals. This form of analysis is typically utilized to study producers and consumers, firms and industries, individuals and societies. Public choice extends this framework to how individuals act in political cont...
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the examination of school choice policies is a case study of larger inquiries: how does social change happen? what can we learn about past social changes?
- Explains that wayne leighton and ed lopez present a model of social change that combines public choice analysis and intellectual shifts to explain how change happens.
- Explains that economists leighton and lopez were students of james m. buchanan, a pioneer of the public choice framework in economics.
- Explains that the examination of school choice policies is a case study of larger inquiries: how does social change happen? what can we learn about past social changes?
- Explains that wayne leighton and ed lopez present a model of social change that combines public choice analysis and intellectual shifts to explain how change happens.
- Explains that economists leighton and lopez were students of james m. buchanan, a pioneer of the public choice framework in economics.
- Explains that public choice begins with the study of "choosing, acting, behaving" individuals. political groups are built by individuals, and groups do not act; individuals do.
- Explains that public choice brings to political science the assumption that individuals tend to maximize their preferences, or utility.
- Explains that political exchange is the essential methodological element of the public choice framework.
- Explains that lopez and leighton use the public choice framework to study political change because it tells them how politics is, regardless of how one wishes it to be.
- Opines that leighton and lopez combine public choice economics with an understanding of how ideas influence social and political change.
- Analyzes how leighton and lopez supplement the insights of public choice with arguments about the relationship of ideas and political institutions made by scholars such as hayek, keynes, and mccloskey.
- Analyzes how f. a. hayek addressed how changes in social order occur in his 1949 article "the intellectuals and socialism."
- Explains hayek's distinction between scholars and intellectuals. scholars are thinkers who forge new ideas in their area of expertise.
- Explains that intellectuals are a filtering mechanism that influences which political and social conversations are the topics of the day. the public at large is concerned with the affairs of their family, their occupation, and their leisure pursuits.
- Explains hayek's view that intellectuals are a relatively new phenomenon of history. they rely on spoken and written language to convey their ideas.
- Explains that scholars and intellectuals do not play an active role in policy debates. they shape the realm of ideas in which political and social decisions are made.
- Explains that political and social debates are often rooted in foundational values, or a vision, for society. all people, not just intellectuals, hold visions which shape their thoughts.
- Explains that john maynard keynes, who disagreed with hayek on matters of economics and public policy, agreed with him on this matter of social change theory.
- Opines that the power of vested interests is vastly exaggerated compared with the gradual encroachment of ideas.
- Analyzes how keynes addresses the many elements involved in the chain of ideas which drives social change.
- Analyzes how mccloskey argues that economics (including the public choice school) cannot fully explain the modern world of great economic prosperity, or the political and social change that preceded it.
- Explains that ideas alone are unable to create change. change occurs when individuals or groups identify opportunities to turn the ideas of intellectuals into actual changes in political institutions.
- Explains the definition of political entrepreneur, which is heavily drawn from leighton and lopez.
- Explains that political entrepreneurs seek profits through political, rather than competitive, means, while capitalist entrepreneurs create wealth through trade for mutual benefit.
- Explains that political entrepreneurs put ideas for change into practice by adjusting political institutions. they change how politics operates by altering institutional incentives affecting the behavior of political actors.
- Explains that political entrepreneurs make decisions to invest time, talent, and treasure to create the most value given a situation of limited knowledge. they use market prices to identify opportunities for profits, the sign of wealth creation.
- Concludes that leighton and lopez present four "principles for political entrepreneurship" that they draw from their theoretical and historical examination of political change.
2613 words
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Doubts Over the Effectiveness of Free Trade Economic Theory
analytical essay
Paul Krugman’s article “Is free trade passé?” (1987) espouses the argument that free trade economic theory today is “more in doubt than at any time since the 1817 publication of Ricardo’s Principles of Political Economy” (p. 131, citing Ricardo, 1821). Ricardo was the first to put forth the theory that “[t]he value of a commodity, or the quantity of any other commodity for which it will exchange, depends on the relative quantity of labour which is necessary for its production, and not on the greater or less compensation which is paid for that labour” (Ricardo, 1821, p. 1.1). It was his theory that specialization, even to the point of eliminating certain industries in a country, optimized a country’s trade advantage (p. 31.17). As Krugman points out, governments’ strategic trade policy intervention in free trade, through import restrictions or quotas, export subsidies, tariffs, and other trade interventions, have substantively moved international markets away from free trade. As the course module emphasizes, “The Ricardian model of trade…is of limited application to the complexities and realities of modern trade because it provides no insight into the sources of comparative advantage” (Colorado State University-Global Campus, 2014, p. 2). Krugman argues that although free trade may not be passé, the theory has become the reasonable rule of thumb rather than the optimum result, as it is not always the right policy.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes krugman's argument that free trade economic theory is "more in doubt than at any time since the 1817 publication of ricardo’s principles of political economy."
- Explains that international economic theory believed that countries only traded to take advantage of their differences. this heckscher-ohlin-samuelson factor endowment theory emphasized income distribution effects that were absent in the ricardian model.
- Explains that increasing returns and imperfect competition are an independent force leading to geographical concentration of production of each good.
- Analyzes krugman's argument that free trade economic theory is "more in doubt than at any time since the 1817 publication of ricardo’s principles of political economy."
- Explains that international economic theory believed that countries only traded to take advantage of their differences. this heckscher-ohlin-samuelson factor endowment theory emphasized income distribution effects that were absent in the ricardian model.
- Explains that increasing returns and imperfect competition are an independent force leading to geographical concentration of production of each good.
- Explains that while government intervention does not always work, it has become more of the norm in current international trade.
- Analyzes how krugman's "is free trade passé?" has been frequently cited since its publication in 1987, mostly favorably. zigic advocates for government-backed strategic trade policy.
- Concludes that interventionist trade policies will, over time, give way to the realization that countries need to avoid widespread trade wars.
- Analyzes krugman's theory that comparative advantage is an incomplete model of trade, and that free trade is not passé—it isn't what it once was.
- Explains that market structure and foreign trade: increasing returns, imperfect competition, and the intemational economy.
721 words
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The American Imperialism
analytical essay
Economics becomes a large factor in the American imperialism; but more specifically that expansion in foreign markets is a vital part in the growth of America. As historian Charles Beard puts it, “[it] is indispensable to the prosperity of American business. Modern diplomacy is commercial. Its chief concern is with the promotion of economic interests abroad” (Kinzer 81). Williams provides that the people of United States wanted this change to culminate in the business. “A great many farm businessmen were in trouble, and if they voted together they could control national policy. There was, in truth, a crisis before the Cri...
In this essay, the author
- Explains how the us took a turn that led them to solidify as the world power. historians such as william a. williams, arthur schlesinger, and stephen kinzer provided their own vision and how america ought to be
- Argues that expansion in foreign markets is a vital part in the growth of america.
- Opines that it is not wrong to say that americans are power hungry and necessitate security of that power.
- Explains how the us took a turn that led them to solidify as the world power. historians such as william a. williams, arthur schlesinger, and stephen kinzer provided their own vision and how america ought to be
- Argues that expansion in foreign markets is a vital part in the growth of america.
- Opines that it is not wrong to say that americans are power hungry and necessitate security of that power.
556 words
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How Did Hobson Discredited Imperialism
analytical essay
Having no qualms of making enemies, Hobson points the blame directly at those imperialists’ businessmen whom, both at home and abroad exploit the situation at the expense of the average man. “Imperialism, as we see, implies the use of machinery of government by private interests, mainly capitalists, to secure for them economic gains outside their country.”
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how hobson's economic argument discredited imperialism on the basis that it was not a successful practice for nations supporting it for economic gains.
- Analyzes how hobson discredited imperialism from a strictly economic standpoint, but he decided to attack it further by exposing the contradictions it had concerning its ‘moral’ application.
- Explains that john hobson had been writing books on economic topics prior to his publishing of imperialism, but in the case of this text, it significantly influenced a leftist radical who believed his interpretations and analysis of imperialism to be very good.
- Analyzes how hobson's economic argument discredited imperialism on the basis that it was not a successful practice for nations supporting it for economic gains.
- Analyzes how hobson discredited imperialism from a strictly economic standpoint, but he decided to attack it further by exposing the contradictions it had concerning its ‘moral’ application.
- Explains that john hobson had been writing books on economic topics prior to his publishing of imperialism, but in the case of this text, it significantly influenced a leftist radical who believed his interpretations and analysis of imperialism to be very good.
- Explains vladimir lenin's opposition to imperialistic practices occurring across europe stemmed directly from his marxist ideology and his correlation of imperialism to capitalism.
- Opines that the age of european imperialism was a fifty to seventy year period, but can still be seen on the map today. the social darwinist ideology that some used to justify, genuinely or not, the occupation, and subsequent stealing of lands and resources from millions of people to increase their profits, was
1112 words
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The Pros and Cons of Free Trade
analytical essay
Free Trade is a beneficial idea if all parties involved, that is, the workers, the state, and the private sector, could be represented equally and justly. Until all three ingredients are given the same chances, each perspective will allow for different advantages and disadvantages. By examining the liberal, nationalistic, and Marxist perspectives individually and in contrast with one another, free trade can be seen as a completely different political economy from one region or nation to the next.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that free trade is exchange of goods and commodities between parties without the enforcement of tariffs or duties.
- Explains that the liberal political economy creates a division of labour. the advantage of free trade is the ability of the minority controlling the goods to ascertain more wealth.
- Argues that a nationalist political economy places the emphasis on the nation, rather than the individual, while liberal political economies focus on state power.
- Explains that free trade is exchange of goods and commodities between parties without the enforcement of tariffs or duties.
- Explains that the liberal political economy creates a division of labour. the advantage of free trade is the ability of the minority controlling the goods to ascertain more wealth.
- Argues that a nationalist political economy places the emphasis on the nation, rather than the individual, while liberal political economies focus on state power.
- Analyzes how the marxist perspective discredits both the nationalistic and liberal perspectives by stating that each model omits key components.
- Argues that free trade is beneficial if all parties involved, that is, workers, the state, and the private sector, could be represented equally and justly.
928 words
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