The economic isolationists are winning

So says Greg Mankiw. He notes that a new poll from NBC News/Wall Street Journal (conducted Dec. 14-17, 2007) asked:

"Do you think the fact that the American economy has become increasingly global is good because it has opened up new markets for American products and resulted in more jobs, or bad because it has subjected American companies and employees to unfair competition and cheap labor?"

The result:

28 % of the American public said globalization is good, while 58 % said it is bad.

Mankiw also notes the mercantilist approach to the question,"In actuality, trade is not primarily about more or fewer jobs but about allocating labor among industries toward those in which we have a comparative advantage." A good point.

I wonder if the result would be any different here in New Zealand? It could be because trade is such a obvious and important part of our economy.