Back in the eighties Maggie started a buy british slogan. If the worlds free trade stopped, which part of the world would you want to live in and why?

Regards

ML.

Wherever there was plenty of work and little corruption or crime in both the public and private sectors. I am not sure that this place actually exists though

those who are enforcing the trade restrictions.

If you're talking about self sufficiency Brazil has got to be at or near the top of the list?

As of 5-10 years ago trade as a percent of US GDP was only 12% - America was largely self-sufficient. I think the US is still the best positioned country to pursue autarky.

America imports $1.5 trillion worth of goods. $430 billion in consumer goods, and $160 billion in autos and auto parts - those are both strategically irrelevant, as we also build autos domestically and the imports are of no military value.

However, we import $370 billion in capital goods and $460 billion in industrial supplies. This represents part of America's lost industrial base; but we still have the know-how, so this industrial base could be rebuilt in a timely fashion.

I pick the USA.

http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/Press-...elease/exh8.pdf

As far as an end game goes, I've been thinking something similiar. You have to ask yourself how stable and solid is the growth in the "emerging" economies. Too many people are thinking of the currencies of the "decadent" west blowing up, but what is more likely to happen, in an era of globalization, is capital will reverse back to the central funding currencies... the currencies which have some history behind them. Decoupling might come at a later date, but for now currencies are all inextricably linked... for better or worse. I doubt the [post] developed economies will suffer some inflationary holocaust, but will most probably find money to be very scarce. People will value it more, and there will be those with it and those without it. Population density might be a crucial factor here; those populations which enjoy a less crowded existence might still maintain a reasonable standard of living by simply growing their own food. Those stuck in the cities might feel the squeeze.

Does the US have the know how? Will foreigners with know how want to work in a state which will be close to anarchy? I am not so sure.

Do you think the politicians in the USA, will continue to sit and watch as China steals its jobs, by keeping its currency from rising to the level it should be at?

How bad would it have to be for them to close theirs doors to imports or raising huge import tariffs on chinese goods ?


Regards

ML

In this scenario there would be no winners.... only loosers ?