Journal of Economic Literature
Book Reviews
2026-09-01
Francisco Rodriguez of United Nations Development Programme and Wesleyan University reviews “Free Trade Reimagined: The World Division of Labor and the Method of Economics” by Roberto Mangabeira Unger,. The EconLit Abstract of the reviewed work begins “Examines the contest over free trade and over the form of an open international economy, focusing on the world division of labor and the method of economics. Discusses why there is intellectual as well as practical trouble with the doctrine of free trade. Addresses the intellectual core of the argument for trade--the doctrine of comparative advantage. Responds to the incompleteness of the doctrine of comparative advantage. Advances three theses about free trade. Explores the programmatic implications of the analysis and its consequences for the reformation of the world trading system and the redirection of national development strategies. Unger is Brazil's Minister of Long-Term Planning. Name and subject indexes.”