Effects of Trade Policies and Tariffs

by | Mar 4, 2023 | economics

 

 

Whether you agree or disagree and whether or not they provide helpful information to the following discussion: Some politicians, labor unions, and special interest groups argue that US trade deficits are harmful to the economy and nations that run large trade surpluses with the US are benefiting from unfair trade practic​‌‍‍‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍​es and agreements. These parties support increasing tariffs on imports, elimination, or re-writing of trade agreements. Respond to the following in a minimum of 175 words: Discuss what credible economists say about the effects that tariffs, changing trade agreements, and/or manipulating exchange rates will have on the total US trade balance. Do you agree with their assertions? Why or why not​‌‍‍‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍​?

 

 

 

 

Sample solution

Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell. 

In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.


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God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.

Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.

To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.

 

References

Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.

Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.

Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.

Sample Solution

Credible economists have long argued that tariffs and other trade restrictions, such as changing or re-writing existing trade agreements and manipulating exchange rates, could have negative effects on the total US trade balance. For example, increasing tariffs on imported goods may lead to a decrease in international demand for those goods and an increase in prices for consumers within the US. This would cause domestic businesses to struggle to stay competitive in the global market because of higher costs, resulting in lower exports from the US. Furthermore, when countries like China devalue their currency relative to that of the US it can make their imports cheaper than what American producers are able to offer thus further decreasing demand for domestic products abroad .

Sample Solution

Credible economists have long argued that tariffs and other trade restrictions, such as changing or re-writing existing trade agreements and manipulating exchange rates, could have negative effects on the total US trade balance. For example, increasing tariffs on imported goods may lead to a decrease in international demand for those goods and an increase in prices for consumers within the US. This would cause domestic businesses to struggle to stay competitive in the global market because of higher costs, resulting in lower exports from the US. Furthermore, when countries like China devalue their currency relative to that of the US it can make their imports cheaper than what American producers are able to offer thus further decreasing demand for domestic products abroad .

Additionally by engaging these tactics governments run risk unintended consequences which usually manifest themselves form retaliatory measures taken another country raise taxes its own imports prevent companies doing business with them due regulations etc.. This means reduced opportunities foreign markets leading decreased profits larger corporations possibly forcing layoff employees diminishing job growth hindering overall economic development nation . Overall while government intervention can be necessary times order counteract certain issues arising externalities trading partners , it’s important think through implications before making decisions potentially have detrimental impacts on citizens it serves.

Overall I agree with assertions made by credible economists regarding potential effects tariffs changing trade agreements manipulating exchange rates total US balance – while they might appear helpful short term could pose severe problems down line if not properly enforced implemented monitored regularly . As such there needs be more active monitoring current policies ensure optimal outcomes reached order successfully maintain healthy stable economy benefiting all involved rather simply curbing specific issue at hand period time.

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