Actually Quote by Ha-Joon Chang
“Basically, the myth is that America has been founded on the free market; the government has done very little; it has thrived under free trade. But actually, if you look at the history, this is actually the country that has succeeded most with protectionist policies.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Economic History Lecture, 2020
The popular belief that America thrives solely on free‑market policies is contradicted by its historical reliance on protectionist measures.
In simple terms: America succeeded with trade protection.
Question assumptions about free trade.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- trade negotiations
- policy analysis
- educational curricula
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do protectionist policies shape modern economies?
- What evidence challenges the free‑market myth?
Free‑market narratives oversimplify complex realities.