151. A BRITISH VIEW OF POSTWAR TRADE.
- Author
-
Opie, Redvers
- Subjects
INTERNATIONAL trade ,ECONOMIC conditions in Great Britain ,ECONOMISTS ,NATIONAL income ,EMPLOYMENT ,FACTORS of production ,DIVISION of labor - Abstract
The article presents a view of the postwar trade. In the paper titled "A British View of Postwar Trade," the author presents one personal set of reflection on a problem that must concern all economists who think about the postwar. Differences in degree of importance attaching to international trade in affecting the level of employment and the productivity of the factors of production, variables, which determine the size of the national income, do exist between countries. While it may not be true to say that "trade, to others a thing apart, is England's whole existence," yet England is high in the list of countries whose welfare is bound up with prosperous, free-flowing and expanding world trade. The degree of Great Britain's dependence on world trade is significant for the readiness; with which enlightened self-interest will dawn and efforts be made to play a part in restoring world trade. It would be superfluous to argue about the economic merits of the territorial division of labor in conformity with the principle of comparative advantage. Instances, in which British and American economists have fallen from grace by thoughtlessly, even irresponsibly, depredating the virtues of international trade in the modem age are rare; and no good purpose would be served by indulging in recriminations.
- Published
- 1943