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Friedrich List’s Critique of the Methuen Treaty

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2022
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Universidad Complutense de Madrid
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This article examines Friedrich List’s critique of the Methuen Treaty. The Methuen Treaty removed all restrictions on English wool entering Portugal and reaffirmed England’s commitment to import Portuguese wines at two-thirds the tariffs of French wines. Friedrich List argues that the agreement hurt Portugal’s textile industry and slowed Portugal’s economic growth. List’s critique of the Methuen Treaty is a strong representation of his resistance to Adam Smith and Jean-Baptiste Say, but it is isolated from his robust theoretical framework. One possible explanation for the discontinuity is that the knowledge problem undermines List’s theory. The lack of local data makes it difficult to conduct an accurate and straightforward policy analysis of the Methuen Treaty, making the analysis vulnerable to normative interpretations. Specifically, List’s disagreement with Adam Smith’s cosmopolitanism pushed him further away from a straightforward application of his theory.
Este artículo examina la crítica de Friedrich List al Tratado de Methuen. El Tratado de Methuen eliminó todas las restricciones a la entrada de lana inglesa en Portugal y reafirmó el compromiso de Inglaterra de importar vinos portugueses a dos tercios de los aranceles de los vinos franceses. Friedrich List argumenta que el acuerdo dañó la industria textil de Portugal y desaceleró el crecimiento económico de Portugal. La crítica de List al Tratado de Methuen es una representación fuerte de su resistencia a Adam Smith y Jean-Baptiste Say, pero está aislada de su sólido marco teórico. Una explicación posible de la discontinuidad es que el problema del conocimiento socava la teoría de List. La falta de datos locales dificulta la realización de un análisis de políticas preciso y directo del Tratado de Methuen, lo que hace que el análisis sea vulnerable a interpretaciones normativas. Específicamente, el desacuerdo de List con el cosmopolitismo de Adam Smith lo alejó aún más de una aplicación directa de su teoría.
Este artigo examina a crítica de Friedrich List ao Tratado de Methuen. O Tratado de Methuen eliminou todas as restrições à entrada de lã inglesa em Portugal e reafirmou o compromisso da Inglaterra de importar vinhos portugueses adois terços das tarifas dos vinhos franceses. Friedrich List argumenta que o acordo prejudicou a indústria têxtil portuguesa e desacelerou o crescimento econômico de Portugal. A crítica de List ao Tratado de Methuen é uma representação forte de sua redsistência a Adam Smith e Jean-Baptiste Say, mas está isolada de sua robusta contribuição teórico. Uma explicação possível para a descontinuidade é que o problema do conhecimento enfraquece a teoria de List. A falta de dados locais dificulta a realização de uma análise política precisa e direta do Tratado de Methuen, tornando a análise vulnerável a interpretações normativas. Especificamente, o desacordo de List com o cosmopolitismo de Adam Smith o afastou ainda mais de uma aplicação direta de sua teoria.
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