Teaching the Stimulus

Many European countries have protectionism. France, for instance protects various retail and food service industries from foreign competition (i.e. American chains, etc.) If you are looking for a negative example on how protectionism can impact an industry, look at the Italian auto industry and how its protectionist policies supplied its customers with inferior autos for years. I have used this issue during my international trade unit to set-up a structured debate between students. Students could advocate for and against protectionism.

Wow! All textbooks cover this issue in their chapters on international trade, should be easy to find for you. The news today as I type has articles on the trip to Canada by President Obama and in them should be discussion on NAFTA and his statements on "Buy American" thinking and what occurred.

Historically, it has lead to a more severe depression over time. See the results of actions in the Hoover years that led to events up to 1932 and the election of FDR. You can study the issues of absolute and comparative advantage in trade as well as benefits and costs from global trade, free markets and barriers to trade as well.

Yes, other nations employ and use protectionist measures , too.

You could discuss the pros and cons of protectionist policies in general as well as the various methods. You could explain how the U.S. economy is interrelated with other countries. (The fact that our recession is having global economic impact illustrates this point.) The general trend has been toward reducing trade barriers. (Think in terms of NAFTA or the creation of the Euro currency.)