> Date: Thu, 4 Sep 1997 19:11:22 -0700 (PDT) > Reply-to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > From: Robert Naiman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: [PEN-L:12130] consumer price changes due to trade and trade >agreements...? > Is anyone aware of attempts to empirically measure "increases in consumer > surplus" due to international competition, e.g. due to NAFTA or other > multilateral trade agreements? > > I don't mean here the usual equilibirum models -- i mean someone actually > checking prices before and after the change in trade regime, like the price > data of the bls. Talk to Dean Baker at EPI. He's got a new unit of measurement -- "Gatt's", which is the extent of well-being under neo-classical micro theory you get from GATT. Thus he can show how much assorted progressive policies provide in GATTS. E.G., reduced unemployment provides six gatts, etc. I don't remember the actual numbers, but it turns out the 'welfare gain' from trade liberalization is sufficiently small to be a convenient numeraire for many other policies. MBS ================================================== Max B. Sawicky Economic Policy Institute [EMAIL PROTECTED] Suite 1200 202-775-8810 (voice) 1660 L Street, NW 202-775-0819 (fax) Washington, DC 20036 Opinions here do not necessarily represent the views of anyone associated with the Economic Policy Institute. ===================================================
