tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9172766774137902766.post6470197627657826979..comments2023-12-23T09:28:20.869+00:00Comments on The View from Cullingworth: Free exchange (that's trade folks) makes everyone richer...Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9172766774137902766.post-12977134367231334472016-09-12T11:34:07.323+01:002016-09-12T11:34:07.323+01:00Richer means just what it says - exchange creates ...Richer means just what it says - exchange creates mutual benefit in that both the buyer and seller have greater value. I sort of get the point about infrastructure but not the stuff about inequality or young people deciding to take their talents to a place where they get most value from them.<br /><br />The economic benefits of free trade - a bit like the utter stupidity of rent controls - are one of the few things where nearly all economists agree. Now I get that economics isn't everything but if we are to have policies - protectionism being a good example - we should start by recognising that there is an economic cost to having those policies.<br /><br />Finally those greedy developers are creations of our planning system - we made it possible to have development land at x1000 of agricultural values by creating an artificial scarcity of land. This might be worth it to protect openness around our cities and to prevent sprawl but the development business is absolutely a consequence of that policy. The price we pay for having a green belt.Simon Cookehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12586896340482296341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9172766774137902766.post-37964822336025048222016-09-12T07:40:54.305+01:002016-09-12T07:40:54.305+01:00Can of worms. Richer in what senses? How does one ...Can of worms. Richer in what senses? How does one calculate the far-reaching costs of unemployment? Of increasing inequality and the flight of the talented young from our country? Of the depredation of the countryside by greedy landowners and developers?<br /><br />I am disappointed that you do not engage with comments, so I shall not be surprised if you do not elaborate your argument.Sackersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17284329249862764601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9172766774137902766.post-85293398784508294152016-09-12T00:02:09.613+01:002016-09-12T00:02:09.613+01:00Okay. So, let us have open borders. Let them com...Okay. So, let us have open borders. Let them come, without let or hindrance, ‘cos you know it’s going to make us all rich. Of course, at the present rate of ~300,000 per year that means building a town the size of Bradford each and every year; with schools, hospitals, public buildings, electricity power stations (and, please, do not mention “renewables”…) and supplying it, gas supplies, water supplies, sewage treatment. That means we have to integrate many people from many cultures, not only with the English but also with each other. Like, that’ll go well, won’t it? Much as it is going, right now – i.e. seriously down the pan!<br /><br />Sorry, but if this is your idea of free trade, then I am afraid it ain’t gonna work. The system is creaking now; how long before it collapses altogether? To reduce it down to a simple analogy (yes, I know – analogies always contain flaws): homes engage in free trade by going to work, buying in goods, etc.; they do not usually just open their doors to all and sundry, letting them move in and live as they want to in the house, whether contributing or living off the household budget, and claiming this is “free trade”. Let each household live as they want to, independent of others, and trade amongst themselves.Radical Rodenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09098158811572687268noreply@blogger.com