Trade wins or trade wars: The perceptions and knowledge in the free trade debate

Abstract

This book tackles the disconnect between social perceptions and expert knowledge regarding trade policy decisions. Using a Polish language internet database, the authors shed light on areas that need to be addressed when considering the adoption of particular trade policies by applying content and statistical analysis to produce an easy to deploy measure of populism in digital media, the "Media Populism Ratio". Defining a mismatch between social perception and expert knowledge may contribute to a better understanding of the controversies on free trade, as well as properly defining possible sources of populism and social conflicts - therefore also revealing some potential weaknesses in the trade policy implementation level which are at times neglected or underestimated. The book will be relevant to students and researchers interested in economic policy, economic narratives and cultural economics.