September 18, 2009 10:55PM

A Super‐Majority of Economists Agree: Trade Barriers Should Go

By Daniel Griswold

Sure, economists disagree among themselves about a number of public policy issues, but not about the desirability of free trade. The latest edition of Econ Journal Watch, published by the American Institute for Economic Research in Great Barrington, Mass., reports the results [pdf] from a random survey of members of the American Economic Association.

Based on questionnaires returned by more than 100 members, all with Ph.D.s in economics, the survey’s author, Robert Whaples, reports:

The economics profession continues to show a consensus in favor of unfettered international trade, as 83 percent agree and only 10 percent disagree that the United States should eliminate remaining tariffs and other barriers.
Other issues in which the economists reached a strong consensus:
- 82 percent disagreed that the U.S. government should ban genetically modified crops; only 7 percent agreed.
- 78 percent agreed that U.S.-government subsidies for ethanol should be eliminated or reduced, compared to 10 percent who want them increased.
- 72 percent agreed that “A Wal-Mart store typically generates more benefits to society than costs,” versus 15 percent who disagreed.
- 72 percent disagree with the proposition that “Employers in the U.S. should be required to provide health insurance to ALL their employees”; 20 percent agreed.
- 70 percent believe the typical American saves too little; 0 percent believe we save too much.
- 70 percent agreed that “The U.S. should allow payments to organ donors and their families,” while 16 percent disagreed.