Farm Subsidies (Doha)

[lord of the mark]

None of their business will get off the ground because they'll be crushed with low-cost imports of better quality.

Not if those that are mainly labor intensive. In those they can achieve import substution without protection, and can then move on to exports. Thats pretty much been the story of cotton textiles, in India, Japan, and then on the next wave countries. Hell thats how cotton textiles moved to the US south, from New England. Surely you dont think the US South had import protections? Yet it industrialized.

While that may be good for consumers in the short run, in the long run it leaves the country improvished, since it's industry which generates the most wealth

No, modernization brings wealth. Canada is a good example of a country that modernized using extractive sectors mainly. Also Sweden, Finland, Australia, etc.

Now, it's true that for Latin America, import substitution was a disaster. There are a number of factors for that, among which I would include: siesta culture, relatively low urbanization,

Low urbanization is a consequence of lack of industry.

corruption of military dictatorships (Asian dictatorships were generally non-military--don't know if that makes if difference),

Er, lets see, South Korea, Thailand, Indonesia - plenty of military dictatorships, and plenty of corruption.

lack of decent sources of external revenue (many of the Asian tigers were on the frontlines of the Cold War and got quite a bit of Amerian money), etc.

South Korea actually stagnated when it was MOST on the front lines. Singapore didnt get much US money, IIUC.

[Bosh]

South Korea actually stagnated when it was MOST on the front lines. Singapore didnt get much US money, IIUC.

Really? The SKorean economy boomed like crazy in the 70's when they were getting big piles of American money because of the Vietnam War (just like the Japanese economy really got going when the Korean war started). What also really helped the Korean economy was the Arab Oil Embargo since a lot of the big stacks of cash the OPEC countries made was spent on Korean companies that built **** all across the Mid-East.

[LordShiva]

Originally posted by Bosh
Really? The SKorean economy boomed like crazy in the 70's when they were getting big piles of American money because of the Vietnam War

Those are hardly the front lines.

[Bosh]

Originally posted by LordShiva


Those are hardly the front lines.

So? You'd have to be crazy to think that being on the front lines of a war would be good for your economy. You want to be close enough to the front lines that you can supply **** and far enough away that you don't get blown up. The Korean and Vietnam Wars were massive economic boosts to the Japanese and Korean economies respectively.

[Az]

There are a number of factors for that, among which I would include: siesta culture, relatively low urbanization, corruption of military dictatorships

racist

[Colon™]

Originally posted by Bosh

Really? The SKorean economy boomed like crazy in the 70's when they were getting big piles of American money because of the Vietnam War (just like the Japanese economy really got going when the Korean war started). What also really helped the Korean economy was the Arab Oil Embargo since a lot of the big stacks of cash the OPEC countries made was spent on Korean companies that built **** all across the Mid-East.

The Korean war may have been a kickstart but certainly not a cause. What people constantly forget is that Japan already possessed a modern and diversified economy during the 30's (if not just yet at the same level as West-Europe or the US). Post-war industrial powerhouses such as Mitsubishi, Nissan, Matsu****a, Fuji, Mazda, Hitachi etc etc etc already existed before the war. Heck Japan even had an aerospace industry it lost after the war.

[St Leo]

I support agricultural subsidies in the first world, because food transportation networks run on oil and oil is going up in price. At some point, importing food will get rather more expensive than growing it locally. If we liberalize the agricultural sector, we won't have any locally grown food when that happens.

[Kuciwalker]

[LordShiva]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by lord of the mark
Er, lets see, South Korea, Thailand, Indonesia - plenty of military dictatorships, and plenty of corruption.

I did write generally.

[Barnabas]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by chegitz guevara
I did write generally.

South Korea, Thailand, and Indonesia make up a good portion of [South]East Asia.

[Sikander]

Originally posted by Az

racist

I don't see how, siestas can be taken by people of any race.

[VetLegion]

Economic history is one of my favourite topics, and I have to agree with Che here. I haven't yet found a single country that became industrialized in a free trade enviroment.

This doesn't mean that protectionism is a miracle potion for industrializing a country, of course.

Economic success in the long term is mostly a function of society's culture and values.

[Kuciwalker]

Economic history is one of my favourite topics, and I have to agree with Che here. I haven't yet found a single country that became industrialized in a free trade enviroment.

Fixed .