121. Can Infant Industry Protection Work? Evidence from Napoleon

In this discussion, Reca Juhas, an economics assistant professor at Columbia University, delves into the impacts of trade policies on industrial development. She uses the Napoleonic Blockade to illustrate how temporary protection can shape industries. Key topics include the role of infant industry protection in fostering competitiveness and the contrasting experiences of France and Britain in the textile sector. Juhas also explores regional disparities in protection outcomes and reevaluates the ongoing debate about the effectiveness of protective tariffs in economic policy.