Can Trumps economic plan work?

[hollodero]

(01-23-2017, 10:21 AM)xxlt Wrote: I just saw that Trump's first official act is rumored to be withdrawing from the Trans Pacific Partnership.

I heard China will greatly benefit from that since they were excluded from TPP. You're out, they might be in. Which is a bit the difference between that and NAFTA - NAFTA would not make much sense without the US, TTP might. And not liking trade agreements and not being part of them when they form without you might be two different things after all.

(01-23-2017, 10:21 AM)xxlt Wrote: Those old enough to remember the first Clinton admin will remember NAFTA was in the works then. Ross Perot warned that there was a "giant sucking sound" and it was jobs going to Mexico if NAFTA passed. Looks like he was right. I have read the economic theories about fair trade, and like many theories they make sense, but seem not to actually work in the real world.

Was he though? Unemployment in 1993 was 6.9%, in 2000 it dropped to 4%. So there's that.
The rise afterwards might not be NAFTA after all. Or it might, what do I know. Just the numbers aren't really there. You're now back to 5.3% and NAFTA's still there.

(01-23-2017, 10:21 AM)xxlt Wrote: Part of the reason they don't/have not worked to this point appear to be - per President Clinton - the unanticipated focus on quarterly statements by corporate boards. This is similar to the shortsightedness you alluded to on the environment. We don't always act rationally, and since we don't, we need to modify practice from what should theoretically work (if people are rational) to what will work in actuality (since they aren't rational). 

It's similar to shortsightedness on every issue, be it political, economocial, scientific and whatnot. Men is short-sighted and nothing probably can ever change that except for a largely increased life span. I'd guess.
Guess CEOs don't really have a choice, though. I just wonder why the "unanticipated focus on quarterly statements by corporate boards" should shape policies. I saw your reason, I get it, but I still wonder. Wondered since the financial crisis, actually. Since that time I really don't want economy to dictate policies and politics no questions asked.

We wouldn't want that regarding climate change :) Although many would.