cover of episode Tariffs: what are they good for?

Tariffs: what are they good for?

2025/4/2
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Ha-Joon Chang
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Judy Shelton
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Mark Summerlin
旁白
知名游戏《文明VII》的开场动画预告片旁白。
Topics
旁白:关税是进口税,由消费者承担,通常被认为不利于自由贸易和经济增长,但也有例外情况,例如婴儿产业保护、国家安全和应对不公平贸易行为。 Ha-Joon Chang:发达国家在发展初期曾使用保护主义政策,但后来却要求发展中国家实行自由贸易,这是不公平的。婴儿产业保护是必要的,可以帮助新兴产业成长壮大,最终在国际市场上竞争。 Mark Summerlin:中国加入WTO后,对美国制造业就业岗位造成冲击,自由贸易的代价过高。关税可以帮助纠正贸易不平衡,带回制造业就业岗位,即使这意味着更高的物价。 Judy Shelton:关税可以激励美国人购买美国制造的产品,增加政府收入,有助于平衡政府预算。关税也是一种权力工具,可以用来实现政治目标,例如迫使其他国家采取美国希望的行动。 Ha-Joon Chang: 我认为富裕国家在发展过程中使用过保护性贸易政策,例如关税和补贴,来保护其国内产业免受外国竞争的冲击。然而,这些国家后来却敦促发展中国家实行自由贸易,这是一种虚伪的做法。我的观点是,发展中国家应该有权使用类似的策略来发展其自身产业,即使这意味着暂时牺牲一些经济效率。 南韩的现代汽车就是一个很好的例子。在早期,南韩政府对进口汽车实施了严格的限制,并为现代汽车提供了补贴,这使得现代汽车能够在国内市场站稳脚跟,并最终发展成为全球汽车巨头。如果没有政府的保护和支持,现代汽车可能无法生存下来。 当然,婴儿产业保护政策需要谨慎实施,并应在适当的时候取消,以避免长期依赖政府支持,并确保市场竞争的健康发展。 Mark Summerlin: 我认为,长期以来,经济学界对自由贸易的益处过于乐观。中国加入世界贸易组织后,对美国制造业就业岗位造成了巨大的冲击,许多美国工人因此失业,而这些失业并没有得到充分的补偿。 特朗普政府的政策,虽然有争议,但反映了对这种不平衡的担忧。关税可以作为一种工具,来帮助纠正贸易逆差,并促进美国国内制造业的复苏。虽然这可能会导致一些短期成本,例如更高的物价,但我认为从长远来看,这将有利于美国经济的健康发展,并为美国工人创造更多更好的就业机会。 当然,关税的实施需要谨慎,并需要考虑其对消费者和全球贸易的影响。 Judy Shelton: 我认为关税可以成为一种有效的工具,来促进美国国内产业的发展,并纠正贸易不平衡。关税不仅可以减少进口,还可以增加政府收入,这有助于平衡政府预算。 此外,关税还可以作为一种外交政策工具,来迫使其他国家采取对美国有利的行动。例如,特朗普政府曾威胁对某些国家实施关税,以迫使这些国家在移民问题或贸易问题上做出让步。 当然,关税也可能导致一些负面后果,例如更高的物价和贸易摩擦。但是,我认为,如果关税能够有效地促进美国国内产业的发展,并维护美国的国家利益,那么这些负面后果是可以接受的。

Deep Dive

Chapters
This chapter explores the traditional economic view of tariffs as import taxes that harm consumers and hinder free trade. It sets the stage for examining alternative perspectives on tariffs and their potential benefits.
  • Economists generally dislike tariffs as they raise prices and reduce competition.
  • Free trade is often favored for its promotion of economic growth.
  • The theory of comparative advantage suggests specialization and trade lead to greater overall wealth.

Shownotes Transcript

What are tariffs good for?For years, mainstream economists have basically said: tariffs are not good. They are an import tax paid by consumers, they've said, and they discourage free trade, and we want more! Because free trade has broadly led to more global economic growth.But global trade hasn't been all positive for Americans, and in the worldview of President Trump's administration, tariffs can be used to right some of those wrongs. And the U.S. has economic leverage. So if the U.S. wants to level the playing field, it should use that leverage, and use tariffs to accomplish its policy goals.Today on the show: the case for tariffs. We talk to a lonely economist who's been sounding the alarm for years that more and free-er trade isn't always better. And we speak to economists in President Trump's orbit who make the case for how tariffs can be a potent economic and political tool.*This episode was produced by Willa Rubin and edited by Meg Cramer. It was fact-checked by Sarah McClure and engineered by James Willetts. Alex Goldmark is our executive producer. **Find more Planet Money: Facebook) / Instagram) / TikTok) / Our weekly Newsletter).Listen free at these links: Apple Podcasts), Spotify), the NPR app) or anywhere you get podcasts.Help support Planet Money and hear our bonus episodes by subscribing to Planet Money+ in Apple Podcasts) or at plus.npr.org/planetmoney).Music: Universal Music Production: "Funky Reverie" and "With It;" Audio Network - "Slush Puppy Soul."*Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices)NPR Privacy Policy)