Transformations  in
Business & Economics

EXPORTS IN THE DOCTRINE AND POLICY OF MODERN ECONOMIC PROTECTIONISM¹
Boguslawa Drelich-Skulska, Malgorzata Domiter

ABSTRACT. In the era of globalisation, an objective and common phenomenon, national governments continuously have to make their choice of a model of trade policy which would enable to obtain the greatest possible benefits from globalisation, as well as to avoid the related dangers. In order to make the correct choice, it is necessary to answer the question of whether it is possible to face effectively the challenges posed by the global market without government support. The current arguments in favour of economic protectionism in theoretical terms are included in the concepts of strategic trade policy and industrial policy, both of which comprise the basis of modern protectionist practices.
From the viewpoint of the theory of exchange, both exports and imports are treated as symmetrical elements, however analysis of economic phenomena in the 20th and 21st centuries provides evidence of the dominance of anti-import tendencies over those focused on the development of exports. The aim of the article was to answer the question about the place of exports in trade policy based on neo-protectionism, while at the same time indicate that the full theoretical basis of the strategy of economic development implicated by exports were created by the neoclassical theory of international trade. Based on the arguments formulated by neo-protectionism, reflected in the protectionist practices of the strategic trade and industrial policies, the study examined their influence on the pro-export trade policy.
The authors pointed out that whereas protectionist policies concentrate on restricting access to the internal market, strategic trade policy and industrial policy place emphasis on actions facilitating the functioning of the internal market and creating competitive conditions for conducting business activity. It was also established that within the protectionist practices employed by these policies there is a range of instruments targeting the growth of exports.

KEYWORDS:  protectionism, neo-protectionism, trade policy, exports, imports.

JEL classification:  B15, B17, F13.

¹Acknowledgment:  The project is financed by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education in Poland under the programme "Regional Initiative of Excellence" 2019 - 2022 project number 015/RID/2018/19 total funding amount 10 721 040.00 PLN.