NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #30/NN_1992_30.iso/spool/sci/econ/9451

Internet Message Format | 1992-12-17 | 3.0 KB

Xref: sparky sci.econ:9451 misc.legal:21420
Newsgroups: sci.econ,misc.legal
Path: sparky!uunet!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!saimiri.primate.wisc.edu!ames!fxgrp!raphael
From: [e-mail] (Glen Raphael)
Subject: Re: "Dumping"
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Sender: [e-mail]
Organization: FXD/Telerate, Mountain View, CA
References: <W0Q==[e-mail]> <[e-mail]> <cSR=[e-mail]> <[e-mail]>
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 06:05:31 GMT
Lines: 63

[e-mail] (Mark Fulk) writes:

>Notice that Japan:

>A) has very limited land area, for a substantial population.
>B) consists 70% of non-arable mountains.
>C) has no mineral resources worth mentioning.
>D) is not self-sufficient in food, except for rice, which costs
>   several times the world price there.
>E) contains many of the world's most successful manufacturing firms.
>F) places numerous barriers in the way of foreign competition.
>G) owns much of the world's debt.

I agree with most of the above.

>The US:

>A) has enormous land area for a large population.
>B) has so much arable land that most of it is out of production,
>   and what's left can still feed the world.
>C) has probably the world's greatest store of mineral resources in
>   one country.
>D) feeds a substantial part of the world.
>E) used to contain the world's most successful manufacturing firms.
>F) places few or no barriers in the way of foreign competition.
>G) owes much of the world's debt.

Hmm. I might have put it slightly differently....

The US:
A) has enormous land area for a large population.
B) has so much bureaucratic misregulation that much of its arable land
   is kept out of production in order to artificially inflate the cost of
   food. Agricultural policies keep a few big inefficient agribusinesses
   afloat while it impoverishes the populace through high taxes and high
   food prices at the same time as it discourages efficient farming,
   destroys cropland, and drives the unsubsidized farmers out of business.
   The inevitable result of current policy will eventually be an entirely
   nationalized, entirely unproductive farming industry.
C) has a lot of mineral resources in one country.
D) feeds a substantial part of the world, at a huge economic loss. Every year
   between 1983 and 1987, the total cost to U.S. consumers and taxpayers of
   welfare to farmers equalled or exceeded total farm income.
E) contains many of the world's most successful manufacturing firms.
F) places numerous barriers in the way of foreign competition.
G) owns much of the world's debt. (in the same sense that Japan does.
   Remember: Japan has a net national debt.)

So what's your point?

>Gee, I wonder when the Japanese are going to notice how much those
>trade barriers are hurting them :-).

The same time we notice how ours are hurting us. What makes you think we
place "few or no barriers in the way of foreign competition?" That's a
myth.

>--
>Mark A. Fulk            University of Rochester
>Computer Science Department    [e-mail]

Glen Raphael
[e-mail]