Sophisms Of Free Trade And Popular Political Economy Examined (1912)

Sophisms of Free Trade and Popular Political Economy Examined is a book written by John Barnard Byles and published in 1912. The book is a critical examination of the popular political economy and free trade theories that were prevalent at the time. Byles argues that these theories are based on sophisms, or fallacious arguments, and that they do not accurately reflect the economic realities of the world. The book is divided into two parts. The first part examines the sophisms of free trade, including the idea that free trade benefits all nations equally and that protectionism is always harmful to the economy. Byles argues that these ideas are based on flawed assumptions and that they do not hold up under scrutiny. He also examines the arguments in favor of free trade from a historical perspective, looking at the economic policies of various nations throughout history.The second part of the book examines the popular political economy, which Byles sees as another set of flawed economic theories. He argues that the popular political economy is based on a misunderstanding of the nature of wealth and that it is overly focused on consumption rather than production. Byles also critiques the idea that economic growth is always desirable and argues that it can have negative consequences if it is not accompanied by social and environmental considerations.Overall, Sophisms of Free Trade and Popular Political Economy Examined is a critical examination of some of the most widely accepted economic theories of the time. Byles challenges readers to think critically about these ideas and to consider alternative perspectives on economic policy. The book remains relevant today as debates about free trade and economic growth continue to shape political discourse.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.