The Political Economy of Protection: Theory and the Chilean Experience (Social Science History)

The Political Economy of Protection explains why countries, especially developing countries, change their trade policies over the course of history. It does so through an interdisciplinary approach, which borrows analyses from both political science and economics. While the central focus of this book is to explain historical changes in trade policy in one country, Chile, it is broadly relevant for students, scholars, and trade specialists interested in gaining a deeper understanding of the politics and economics of international trade. Given the intensifying public debates about the benefits of globalization, the author provides a uniquely rigorous yet interdisciplinary analysis of the forces that shape trade policy decisions, not just in Chile, but throughout the world. Contents......Page 6 List of Tables and Figures......Page 8 Preface and Acknowledgments......Page 10 Introduction......Page 14 1. The Political Economy of Protection: An Interdisciplinary Literature Review......Page 18 2. Searching for Chilean Trade Policy Cycles: “Openness” and Policies......Page 46 3. International Trade, Structural Change, and Trade Policy Changes in Chile: Empirical Assessments......Page 81 4. The Fall of Protection, 1974–2000......Page 106 5. Summary of Findings, Future Research, and the Future of Chilean Trade Policy......Page 146 Appendix A. The Political Economy of Protectionism: A Review of the Economics Literature......Page 154 Appendix B. The Political Economy of Protectionism: A Review of the Political Science Literature......Page 159 Appendix C. Chronology of Trade and Economic Policy Changes in Chile, 1765–1970......Page 162 Appendix D. Political Chronology of Chile, 1810–1939......Page 166 Notes......Page 170 Bibliography......Page 182 Index......Page 198 "The Political Economy of Protection explains why countries, especially developing countries, change their trade policies over the course of history. It does so through an interdisciplinary approach that borrows analyses from both political science and economics. Though the central focus of this book is on historical changes in trade policy in one country, Chile, the discussion is broadly relevant for students, scholars, and trade specialists interested in gaining a deeper understanding of the politics and economics of international trade."--Jacket

“In sum, economic historians will benefit from the availability of this succinct overview of Chilean trade policy....Lederman’s book is a good contribution that provides some diversity in historical experience beyond the standard studies of European or North American trade policy.”—EH.NET

Research on the political economy of trade policy in economics and political science experienced a renaissance during the 1980s and continued to grow rapidly in the 1990s.