Trade Walls: A History of Tariffs
Trade Walls: A History of Tariffs by J.D. Moynihan
English | April 5, 2025 | ISBN: N/A | ASIN: B0F2SPH44F | 217 pages | EPUB | 0.33 Mb
English | April 5, 2025 | ISBN: N/A | ASIN: B0F2SPH44F | 217 pages | EPUB | 0.33 Mb
This sweeping historical examination traces humanity's complex relationship with trade barriers from ancient Mesopotamia to today's digital economy. With remarkable detail and analytical insight, it reveals how different civilizations have used customs duties, tariffs, and regulations to control commerce, generate revenue, and protect domestic industries across millennia.
Journey through the rise and catastrophic fall of protectionist policies during the Great Depression, witness the birth of the post-war liberal trade order, and understand the contemporary challenges posed by China's economic rise and technological transformation. Neither a simplistic defense of free trade nor a nationalist call for protection, this nuanced analysis demonstrates how trade policies reflect deeper philosophical choices about national identity, economic development, and the proper relationship between markets and governance.
Essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the historical roots of today's heated debates over globalization, economic sovereignty, and the future of international commerce.