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Christian Science Monitor Letter on Misleading Language about Trade

In a letter in the October 20th, 2005, Christian Science Monitor (available here) I scolded the editors for using misleading language when writing about trade.

You wisely endorse free trade in your Oct. 17 editorial, “Bush starts to bat for free trade.” You weaken your argument, however, by using loaded, protectionist language: You write about the “flood of Chinese textile imports.” Floods kill people and destroy property. No one wants them. Imports, in stark contrast, are goods and services that consumers choose to buy. Imports improve consumers’ lives and free domestic resources to produce yet other valuable goods and services that otherwise would be too costly to produce.

Donald J. Boudreaux
Chairman, department of economics George Mason University
Fairfax, Va.

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