International Trade under President Reagan: US Trade Policy in the 1980s

During the Reagan administration, the US experienced strong economic growth due to luck, the supremacy of US economic interests, and a growing trade deficit. This led to the appreciation of the dollar and an inflow of foreign capital, which attracted differential interest rates.

Format: Hardback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 12 January 2023
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

The United States experienced a period of remarkable economic growth during the Reagan presidency. To understand the factors that contributed to this economic success, Giuseppe La Barca delves into the evolution of US foreign trade and its impact on the economy. He argues that while some economic achievements were due to fortunate circumstances, the Reagan administration also reaffirmed the supremacy of US economic interests. By consuming more than it produced, the US created a growing trade deficit, which led to the appreciation of the dollar and an influx of foreign capital. This capital inflow attracted prolonged differential interest rates, further stimulating the economy.

This book offers a critical analysis of the evolution of US foreign trade and its impact on the national economy during the 1980s. It explores how domestic and international economic policies shaped one another and the impact they had in an increasingly globalizing world. La Barca demonstrates that the Reagan administration's policies played a significant role in promoting economic growth and stability, but they also had unintended consequences, such as contributing to the widening income gap and increasing dependence on foreign capital.

Overall, this book provides valuable insights into the complex relationship between US foreign trade and the national economy during the 1980s. It sheds light on the factors that contributed to economic success and challenges, and it offers a critical perspective on the policies that shaped the era.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350271418