tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20077444.post4086094342335807384..comments2024-03-26T04:21:43.535-05:00Comments on Free Association: TGIF: Trade Is a Labor-Saving "Device"Sheldon Richmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15672237234580563637noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20077444.post-80975654510563495392016-09-23T06:03:18.094-05:002016-09-23T06:03:18.094-05:00SB, good question. There's a difference betwee...SB, good question. There's a difference between profit-oriented market-generated exports/imports and foreign aid/charity. Profit-seeking exporters to developing areas will tend to operate on a regular basis, providing more certainty to the receiving economy than government or private humanitarian efforts. It's the degree of certainty that counts. If a group knows foreign firms can provide, say, shoes cheaper that members of the group can make them, why not import shoes and use scarce labor resources to make something else. There's little danger that the world's shoe export industry would suddenly dry up. The problem is the hit-and-miss nature of aid as opposed to trade. India's development was held back by its import-substitution program.Sheldon Richmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15672237234580563637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20077444.post-33823139862622303992016-09-22T10:06:21.713-05:002016-09-22T10:06:21.713-05:00Hi Sheldon. This is a great piece and I largely ag...Hi Sheldon. This is a great piece and I largely agree, but it seems like the idea of dumping or getting free stuff can have deleterious effects on the populations being dumped on. I recently watched a great documentary, <i>Poverty Inc.</i> where many local leaders in Africa, Haiti etc were begging the western do-gooders to stop the obsessive charity giving as it was destroying local industry and incentive. This makes sense. I would not be doing my kids any favors by giving them everything, especially as they reach adulthood. Here is the trailer.<br /><br />https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqGQ1IRhdzg<br /><br />Or perhaps what I'm speaking of is categorically different? idk.SBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10699554522289335818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20077444.post-27878147211324285092016-09-22T06:48:55.125-05:002016-09-22T06:48:55.125-05:00Thanks!Thanks!Sheldon Richmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15672237234580563637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20077444.post-29421957613829352432016-09-21T13:07:59.153-05:002016-09-21T13:07:59.153-05:00Remarkable, pithy and wonderful commentary.Remarkable, pithy and wonderful commentary.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com