Pop Internationalism

I am an economics professor, and find this book an absolutely fantastic antidote to the alarmist crap (and dogmatic resistance to inconvenient facts) offered by foes of international trade. This book is easy to read and digest, and the data and ideas Krugman presents so clearly do not require any economic education beyond the ordinary undergraduate level. I hearitly recommend the book to anyone dazzled by fears of China or threats to U.S. manufacturing. Easily the most entertaining part of this book is Krugman's treatment of Lester Thurow, Paul Kennedy and others who spent the 1990's extending wooly headed thinking to its local maximum. Modern writing on economics is awash in charlatans and cranks, and Krugman dispenses with them in a way to set the standard. I re-read this book every few years and recommend it to all my grad students in economics as an example of communicating ideas with simple elegance.

This is an excellent book in the sense that it helps non economists see the truth about the effects of trade on the Economy. Normally, people tend to overestimate the effects of trade treaties such as NAFTA on the U.S. economy and Krugman helps you understand why this isn't true. Common knowledge normally doesn't coincide with economic truth and people are mislead by such things as trade wars between mayor superpowers or trade wars between develop and developing nations. Krugman has the ability of explaing such glamorous issues in layman's terms and that's why this book is great.

I have to admit I have enjoyed reading the rambling confused one-star reviews as much as I enjoyed reading the book.

If you have an interest in the field of economics, this book is likely to leave the mark on you. Concepts like "competitiveness" and "trade policy" (just to mention a few) won't look the same to you after you have finished reading the book. Actually, this book can serve as a gateway to the field of International Economics, as it can open your mind and spur your thoughts and interest on the subject. So far, in my limited experience, the most successfully written book from Krugman. Being made by an economist, it is most likely to be appreciated by readers with some background in economics. A "must" for students and ... politicians (yes!).

A fresh, analytical and radical look at international economics WITHOUT THE CLASSIC BASHING OF AMERICA.