Political Economy of Protectionism Chapter 17. Application of Voting Models to the analysis of trade policy. As a theoretical issue, presence of logrolling and cost of income redistribution would be important. Consumers should out-vote producer interests hurt by free trade. Unclear how a direct vote would go, if disputed only among producers.
Studies also emphasize importance of short term macro factors such as unemployment and inflation.
Main problems are free riders especially for consumers, and costs of information. Lobbying seems to have increased, and to be more important, now that cold war concerns are less. Recent U.S. legislation appears to increase power of lobbyists. Recent changes in U.S. trade laws, concerning import surges, etc., make NTBs easier. In immediate postwar period, trade used as a means of promoting broad geopolitical goals, such as restraining Communism and strengthening democracy.