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MIT OpenCourseWare

Seven Questions About Tariffs That Everyone Should Know

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Overview

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Explore fundamental economic principles and policy implications through this comprehensive lecture that examines tariffs from multiple analytical perspectives. Learn to distinguish between the inherent economic costs of tariffs and their potential strategic benefits, while developing frameworks for evaluating when tariff implementation might be economically justified. Analyze real-world case studies including the 2018-2019 Trade War to understand empirical methods for assessing tariff effectiveness and economic impact. Investigate claims about global trade fairness and examine whether current international tariff structures disadvantage specific countries through comparative analysis. Understand the broader systemic risks and cascading effects of trade wars beyond immediate bilateral trade relationships. Master the theoretical foundations and empirical tools economists use to evaluate trade policy, combining microeconomic theory with macroeconomic data analysis to form evidence-based conclusions about complex international trade scenarios. Gain practical skills in policy analysis that apply economic reasoning to contemporary trade debates and political discussions.

Syllabus

Question #1: What Is Always Bad About Tariffs?
Question #2: What is Potentially Good About Tariffs?
Question #3: Should a Country Sometimes Use Tariffs?
Question #4: How Do We Know Whether a Particular Set of Tariffs Are Good or Bad?
Question #5: What Was the Impact of the 2018–2019 Trade War?
Question #6: Are Global Tariffs Unfair to the United States?
Question #7: What Is Really Bad about Trade Wars?

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MIT OpenCourseWare

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