free trade

is a win-win situation for all trading partners involved and should not be interfered in because it allowed each country to specialize in the production of those commodities for which it had a comparative advantage.

Ricardo's theory of 'comparative advantage' became the gospel of modern free traders. He argued that free trade amounted to a winwin situation for all trading partners involved, because it allowed each country to specialize in the production of those commodities for which it had a comparative advantage. For example, if Italy could produce wine more cheaply than England, and England could produce cloth more cheaply than Italy, then both countries would benefit from specialization and trade. In fact, Ricardo even went so far as to suggest that benefits from specialization and trade would accrue even if one country had an absolute advantage in producing all of the products traded. Politically, Ricardo's theory amounted to a powerful argument against government interference with trade and was used by 19th-century liberals like Richard Cobden as a formidable ideological weapon in the struggle to repeal the protectionist Corn Laws in England. (steger neoliberalism p. 2),

is based on the idea that the state must refrain from 'interfering' with the economic activities of self-interested citizens and instead use its power to guarantee open economic exchange. (harvey brief history of neoliberalism).

Adam Smith and David Ricardo preached the virtues of the 'free market' and 'laissez-faire' economics. Smith is credited with creating the Scottish Enlightenment image of homo economicus the view that people are isolated individuals whose actions reflect mostly their material self-interests. According to this view, economic and political matters are largely separable, with economics claiming a superior status because it operates best without government interference under a harmonious system of natural laws. Thus, the state is to refrain from 'interfering' with the economic activities of self-interested citizens and instead use its power to guarantee open economic exchange. (steger neoliberalism p. 2),

is favored by businessmen in general but not when it comes to themselves.

With some notable exceptions, businessmen favor free enterprise in general but are opposed to it when it comes to themselves. Milton Friedman

Free trade is not based on utility but on justice.

is not fully realizable politically because it's only in the general interest and in no one's special interest.

Complete free trade is not politically feasible. Why' Because it's only in the general interest and in no one's special interest. Milton Friedman

 was more free in the 19th century. We have much less globalization now than we did then.

We had much freer trade in the 19th century. We have much less globalization now than we did then. Milton Friedman

 hastens the social revolution. It is in this revolutionary sense alone, we should vote in favor of free trade.

In a word, the free trade system hastens the social revolution. It is in this revolutionary sense alone, gentlemen, that I vote in favor of free trade. Karl Marx

You must distinguish sharply between being pro free enterprise and being pro business. Milton Friedman

free trade, n.Definitions

free trade