The left discovers Friedman

How Trump accidentally sparked a free trade awakening: Ivo Vegter

Trump's aggressive tariff policies have unintentionally sparked public interest in global trade.

The left discovers Friedman

After President Donald Trump imposed broad tariffs, some of his left-wing critics began quoting economists like Milton Friedman, who adamantly believed in unilateral free trade.

Adam Smith vs. the Tariff State: A Timeless Case for Free Trade

If you maintain that over time, the United States has been the best country at exemplifying the teachings of Adam Smith, you would get no argument from me.   Sadly, that imagined crown no longer fits. By one calculation, with President Trump’s new tariffs, the United States “is about to have the highest tariff rate of any advanced economy” with a rate of “around 22 percent — up from 1.5 percent in 2022.” Smith’s teachings on markets and human na…

My debate with Dani Rodrik about tariffs and free trade

This occurred in Knoxville, you can watch it here.  Lots of fun, and p.s. I am more of a free trader than he is.  We did have some disagreements. My debate with Dani Rodrik about tariffs and free trade