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Why economists got free trade with China so wrong

Dec 30, 2025 · 25m
AI Summary
  • Mainstream economists wrongly predicted that free trade with China would be a clear win for the US economy overall
  • MIT economist David Autor's research revealed that US-China trade caused significant manufacturing job losses and struggling workers unable to find comparable employment
  • Autor's data-driven studies over 15 years showed a more 'nuanced and bleaker' picture of trade impacts than economists had previously understood

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