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unhappycamper

(60,364 posts)
Sun Jun 1, 2014, 07:28 AM Jun 2014

Why Is It So Acceptable to Lie to Promote Trade Deals?

http://smirkingchimp.com/thread/dean-baker/56167/why-is-it-so-acceptable-to-lie-to-promote-trade-deals

Why Is It So Acceptable to Lie to Promote Trade Deals?
by Dean Baker | May 31, 2014 - 9:18am

It's not polite to use the "L" word here in Washington, but it's hard not to be more than a bit disgusted with the frequency with which trade pacts are sold as great engines of job creation and economic growth, when they clearly are not. The latest offender in this area is Bruce Ackerman, a Yale Law professor.

In a Washington Post column Ackerman called on President Obama to push for the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Pact (TTIP), which he described as, "opening the path for job-creating opportunities for workers on both continents." Really, what evidence does Professor Ackerman have for this assertion?

The most widely cited projections for the growth impact of the TTIP are from the Centre for Economic Policy Research in London (no connection to my CEPR) which shows the pact leading to an increase in GDP of 0.4 percent in the U.S. when its effects are fully felt in 2027, and 0.5 percent in the European Union. The analysis explicitly says that it will not lead to more jobs since the models are full employment models. It may lead to somewhat higher wages, but it is not a way to employ the unemployed. Furthermore, the discussion notes that in the transition, some workers may end up unemployed as the economies adjust to the new rules.

Implying that a deal that raises GDP by 0.4 or 0.5 percent 13 years out means "job-creating opportunities for workers on both continents" is just dishonest. The increment to annual growth is on the order of 0.03 percentage points. Good luck finding that in the data.
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Why Is It So Acceptable to Lie to Promote Trade Deals? (Original Post) unhappycamper Jun 2014 OP
from my understanding Leme Jun 2014 #1
Cash. nt MannyGoldstein Jun 2014 #2
Cha ching for the oligarchs. GeorgeGist Jun 2014 #3
It's the international version of right to work laws. Fuddnik Jun 2014 #4
baker is being too kind. in dc it's acceptable to lie to promote everything Doctor_J Jun 2014 #5
 

Leme

(1,092 posts)
1. from my understanding
Sun Jun 1, 2014, 07:48 AM
Jun 2014

an increase in GDP does not lead to jobs in and of itself.
-
and as stated "job-creating opportunities for workers on both continents" is just dishonest.
--
There are job-creating opportunities no matter whether GDP goes up/down/ or remains steady.

Fuddnik

(8,846 posts)
4. It's the international version of right to work laws.
Sun Jun 1, 2014, 10:17 AM
Jun 2014

We have the right to work as slaves for the 1%, live in cardboard boxes
and eat canned beans. What more could us ungrateful proles ask for?

 

Doctor_J

(36,392 posts)
5. baker is being too kind. in dc it's acceptable to lie to promote everything
Sun Jun 1, 2014, 11:15 AM
Jun 2014

Trade deals, wars, subsistence cuts, tax cuts, insurance handouts, ...

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