Free Trade under Fire - Hardcover

One of Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles for 2003
"Mr. Irwin takes the direct approach. . . . [H]e sets out most of the antitrade claims one by one (such as 'imports destroy good, high-wage jobs') and then marshals the evidence to show why it just ain¹t so."--William McGurn, Wall Street Journal

"Free trade Under Fire is bang up to date with current literature on trade and incomes, trade and growth, trade and jobs, and other newly contentious issues; any reader who wants to be the same can spare many a weekend plodding through journals and working papers by relying on Mr. Irwin. A wealth of reporting . . . is elegantly squeezed into the book."--The Economist

"[Irwin] successfully parries nearly all arguments leveled against free trade by its critics, and does so in an engaging style, which in itself makes for lively reading."--Gene Epstein, Barron's

"Irwin provides an entree to recent empirical literature, which largely demonstrates that most of the charges against free trade do not stand up under serious empirical scrutiny. He offers an especially informative chapter on antidumping duties, which have historically been supported in the name of ensuring 'fair trade.' "--Foreign Affairs

"Free Trade Under Fire is a first-rate book that deals in a systematic and logical way with the arguments and the myths about globalization and trade."--Harold James, The National Interest

"An extremely clear statement of the economic case in favor of free trade as well as a critique of the flaws in the current system. Based on evidence and analysis, not ideological rhetoric, his book is a primer for those who want to understand the real issues in international trade today."--Choice

"In a clear and engaging style, this Dartmouth economist successfully parries virtually all the arguments leveled against free trade by its critics."--Barron's

The 1990s began with fears of a "great sucking sound" of jobs lost due to the North American Free Trade Agreement and ended with opponents of the World Trade Organization taking to the streets in the "Battle of Seattle." Why has global trade become so controversial? Does free trade deserve its bad reputation? In Free Trade under Fire, Douglas Irwin sweeps aside the misconceptions that litter the debate over trade and gives the reader a clear understanding of the issues involved.

Putting the findings of an extensive body of economic research at the disposal of the general public, Irwin examines the positions of the proponents and critics of free trade--and makes plain the stakes involved in their disagreement, particularly for the United States. He explains the economic benefits of trade, not just for corporations but for people and the environment. He illustrates how protectionist policies damage the economy and fail to save jobs. Examining U.S. trade policy, he shows how "fair trade" measures are arbitrary, unfair, and often harmful. He then demystifies the World Trade Organization and sets the record straight about its controversial rulings on trade and the environment. Irwin does not hold up free trade as a panacea but demonstrates why it is our best alternative.

In a debate where assertions often masquerade as arguments, Irwin's analysis is firmly evidence-based--rooted in empirical research and relying on specific examples and illustrations. Finely argued, Free Trade under Fire makes a vast body of economic learning accessible to nonspecialists. It is an essential primer for anyone who wants to understand one of the most burning controversies of our time.