Background
The term “beggar-my-neighbour policy” (also known as “beggar-thy-neighbour”) refers to economic and trade policies that one country adopts aiming to improve its own economic conditions, particularly during recessions, often at a cost to its trading partners’ economies. These policies are typically protectionist and can involve measures like tariffs, quotas, competitive devaluation, or currency appreciation.
Historical Context
Originally, the term emerged during the economic turmoil of the 1930s, notably during the Great Depression. Countries sought to protect their economies from external shocks and tried to divert domestic demand towards home-produced goods. These efforts included imposing trade restrictions and manipulating exchange rates, which inadvertently exacerbated the global economic situation by stifering international trade and cooperation.
Definitions and Concepts
Beggar-my-neighbour policies involve tactics that seek to relieve domestic economic difficulties by harming the economic prospects of other countries. These policies can take several forms:
- Tariffs and Quotas: Reducing imports to boost domestic production.
- Competitive Devaluation: Lowering the domestic currency’s value to make exports cheaper and more attractive globally.
- Currency Appreciation: Strengthening the domestic currency to counter inflation, which can make international goods relatively cheaper but adversely affects trade partners’ inflation rates.
Major Analytical Frameworks
Classical Economics
From a classical standpoint, beggar-my-neighbour policies disrupt the natural equilibrium and the benefits derived from free trade and competitive advantage.
Neoclassical Economics
Neoclassical economists assert that these policies lead to inefficiencies and generally fall in the domain of protectionism, which stymies global economic growth in the long run.
Keynesian Economics
Keynesian theory would analyze these policies in terms of short-term demand management. While they may temporarily boost domestic demand, they could potentially lead to retaliatory actions and international tension, offsetting the initial gains.
Marxian Economics
Marxian economics might view beggar-my-neighbour policies as reflective of capitalist contradictions, where the pursuit of national self-interest ultimately disrupts the global balance and impacts workers negatively.
Institutional Economics
Institutional economists would emphasize the long-term harm to international cooperation and institutions. Such policies erode trust and may lead to a breakdown of valuable multilateral frameworks.
Behavioral Economics
From a behavioral perspective, these policies could be studied to understand how nationalistic instincts and immediate gains outweigh rational long-term planning, often resulting in suboptimal outcomes.
Post-Keynesian Economics
Post-Keynesians might critique such policies for their expansive macroeconomic loops, arguing that they can be self-defeating globally which leads to a collectively inferior position.
Austrian Economics
Austrian economics would highlight how beggar-my-neighbour policies distort market signals, create inefficiencies, and disrupt the spontaneous order and dynamics of free trade.
Development Economics
From the development perspective, these policies can significantly harm developing countries by reducing their access to larger markets and limiting their economic growth capabilities.
Monetarism
Monetarists would critique the effect of competitive devaluation and currency appreciation on inflation and global trade imbalances that beggar-my-neighbour policies can exacerbate.
Comparative Analysis
Historically, countries adopting beggar-my-neighbour policies often ended up facing retaliatory measures from trading partners, leading to trade wars and prolonged economic downturns. Comparing case studies from different regions and periods can yield insights into the effectiveness and ramifications of these policies.
Case Studies
Explore specific historical instances where beggar-my-neighbour policies were prominently used, such as during the Great Depression, post-World War II economic recoveries, or recent instances during financial crises.
Suggested Books for Further Studies
- “Globalization and Its Discontents” by Joseph E. Stiglitz
- “The Great Depression: An International Disaster of Perverse Economic Policies” by Thomas E. Hall and J. David Ferguson
- “In Defense of Globalization” by Jagdish Bhagwati
Related Terms with Definitions
- Tariffs: Taxes imposed on imported goods to protect domestic industries.
- Quotas: Limits set on the amount of certain goods that can be imported.
- Competitive Devaluation: Reducing the value of a country’s currency to gain a trade advantage.
- Currency Appreciation: An increase in the value of a country’s currency in relation to others.
- Cost Inflation: Inflation driven by rising costs of production, especially wages and raw materials.
This detailed, structured discussion provides a comprehensive understanding of beggar-my-neighbour policies, their historical use, and their implications in various economic schools of thought.
