The Choice: A Fable of Free Trade and Protectionism by Russell Roberts
2007 132 pgs (116pg story)

First, I’m not a mental masochist, this was not on my must reads.  This is a required reading for my class in International Economics.  It only took me a few hours to read, although it is detailed.  I’m sure that I’ll have to read it again to get all the gritty information for the class.

David Ricardo, an English Economist, is a wanderer in heaven waiting for his theory of economics that he laid out in On the Principles of Political Economy and Taxation to come too fruition so he may get into heaven.

Ed Johnson is President of Stellar Television Company in Star, Illinois.  He was asked to give a speech for the 1960 presidential nomination of Congressman Fred Bates at a major convention.  Earlier, he asked the congressman to pass a bill that would limit the imports of Japanse Televisions.  After the success of that bill, the congressman is running on a “Buying American will make America Rich again” platform and plans after being elected to limit all imported goods for the greater of the American economy.

The night before Ed is to give the key speech to introduce Fred as the right Presidental candidate with the right platform, Dave comes down to earth to convince Ed that Free Trade is better for the nation.  He does this by showing Ed what Star Illinois would like in 2005 with Free Trade and then Tariffs.   There is a lot of point-counterpoint on why Free Trade is better for workers and for other nations.

So, to summarize, this is “It’s a Wonderful Life” for economist and Dave is Clarence and Ed is George.

It makes a good explanation why Free Trade is better for all nations in a simple story.

Enjoy your reading!

Lopaka