tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6048425.post3693503076974257505..comments2023-11-02T15:32:15.417+00:00Comments on Bluematter.: An argument against free tradeUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6048425.post-84896378503113024252007-05-29T23:15:00.000+00:002007-05-29T23:15:00.000+00:00Surely just a special case of Harding's 'tragedy o...Surely just a special case of Harding's 'tragedy of the commons'. <BR/><BR/>I do take issue with the idea of comparative advantage being to everyones' benefit (though of course, you said it may, be not it is). Things like the dis-benefit of atmospheric carbon are a fashionable example of market failure, but there are many and substantial social costs to 'free trade' that remain under the radar. Do we really want to work in a human monoculture? Is economic efficiency really the only thing that matters in people's lives? I think we would all be a lot happier if we returned to the 18th century idea of harnessing the economy to work as our servant, rather than the 20th century idea of us all being the servants and tools of the economy. <BR/><BR/>Surprised?Keithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15334350689415572171noreply@blogger.com