Poor Numbers: The Impact of Trade Liberalization on World Poverty

Publication Date: November 2004

Publisher: Center for Economic and Policy Research

Author(s): Mark Weisbrot; David Rosnick; Dean Baker

Research Area: Trade

Keywords: Patent monopolies; Standard of living; Wage inequality

Type: Report

Coverage: United States

Abstract:

Many economists and policy analysts have promoted trade liberalization in rich countries as the most effective way to reduce poverty in the developing world. Cline (2004), one of the leading references on this topic, projected that rich country trade liberalization would lift 540 million people out of poverty. This paper analyses Cline’s projections and finds that the impact of trade liberalization on poverty would be very small.