“Trade is simply too important for economic development to be left to free trade economists.”

— Ha-Joon Chang , book Bad Samaritans: The Myth of Free Trade and the Secret History of Capitalism

Source: Bad Samaritans: The Myth of Free Trade and the Secret History of Capitalism (2008), Ch. 3, More trade, fewer ideologies, p. 83
Context: The importance of international trade for economic development cannot be overemphasized. But free trade is not the best path to economic development. Trade helps economic development only when the country employs a mixture of protection and open trade, constantly adjusting it according to its changing needs and capabilities. Trade is simply too important for economic development to be left to free trade economists.

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Ha-Joon Chang 44

Economist 1963

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“Trade is simply too important for economic development to be left to free trade economists.”

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Ha-Joon Chang 44

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