A Truly Screwy Argument
15 August 2006
Editor, The Wall Street Journal
200 Liberty Street
New York, NY 10281
Dear Editor:
Herman Soifer is upset at the extra costs Americans pay to intern illegal Chinese immigrants who China refuses to take back (Letters, August 15). Putting aside the question of the true costs of these immigrants, Mr. Soifer's proposed solution - that we "enact selective duties on Chinese imports, whose magnitude would be in proportion to the burden China inflicts on us" - is thoroughly wrongheaded.
Duties on imports from China would only burden Americans further. Such duties raise the prices Americans must pay not only for goods imported directly from China but also for goods produced here and in other countries that compete with Chinese goods. The pain from an unpleasant punch in the nose is not relieved by a follow-up punch in the gut.
Sincerely,
Donald J. Boudreaux
Chairman, Department of Economics
George Mason University
Editor, The Wall Street Journal
200 Liberty Street
New York, NY 10281
Dear Editor:
Herman Soifer is upset at the extra costs Americans pay to intern illegal Chinese immigrants who China refuses to take back (Letters, August 15). Putting aside the question of the true costs of these immigrants, Mr. Soifer's proposed solution - that we "enact selective duties on Chinese imports, whose magnitude would be in proportion to the burden China inflicts on us" - is thoroughly wrongheaded.
Duties on imports from China would only burden Americans further. Such duties raise the prices Americans must pay not only for goods imported directly from China but also for goods produced here and in other countries that compete with Chinese goods. The pain from an unpleasant punch in the nose is not relieved by a follow-up punch in the gut.
Sincerely,
Donald J. Boudreaux
Chairman, Department of Economics
George Mason University
Posted by Don Boudreaux on
Saturday May 5, 2007 at 2:55pm