The trade debate is usually framed as workers versus corporations.
But new research from Sujin Cha and Ian Osgood points to a divide that gets far less attention โ firms within the same industry often want opposite things on trade.
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Todayโs trade wars seem to force a choice between open markets and security, as if governments must choose between wealth and power. But is that dilemma really as modern as we think?
The Classic Series will complement our existing work rather than replace it. We will continue featuring new literature and research in the field, alongside our primary Trade War Lab series exploring contemporary issues in economic statecraft and international politics.
Every four years, a presidential election threatens to change the rules for the market: from tax codes to tariffs and regulations. A new study argues that firms manage this turbulence through lobbying rather than direct influence.
However, only about 32% of firms lobby.
The authors found that lobbying acts like a costly insurance policy with rapidly diminishing returns, making economic sense primarily for larger companies with high stakes.
Trade War Lab intends to keep developing it not only as a teaching tool, but also as a research platform and an ongoing coding project, alongside the instructors and students who use it.
Read the full article for more details.
https://t.co/Xdcjwfh38U
Our lab is excited to introduce a new learning tool and coding project: the U.S.-China Trade War Simulation and the research within it, Issue Linkage and Bargaining Failure: Experimental Evidence from a Trade War Simulation.
https://t.co/nToPiYGvgB
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What started as a paper-based exercise evolved into a full-stack web application built on Next.js, Vercel, and Supabase; turning abstract textbook models into tangible problems.
It raises critical ethical questions about information-seeking lobbying and whether it distorts fair market competition.
Read the full article below.
https://t.co/89mTbdHpC1
Most people view corporate lobbying as a tool to sway policy outcomes.
But research by Bo Yang (University of Hong Kong) reveals another side to the story: information-seeking lobbying.
Early access to tariff information then creates an uneven playing field, since companies who can't afford heavy lobbying budgets are left scrambling after public announcements.