Xi Jinping and Donald Trump outside the Great Hall of the People

Economics

Economía y seguridad nacional estadounidense

Dec 26, 2017 Martin Feldstein

CAMBRIDGE – La Estrategia de Seguridad Nacional dada a conocer por la Casa Blanca a principios de este mes difiere de las estrategias anteriores sancionadas por el Congreso que se preparaban cada cuatro años. La ESN de 2017 es diferente porque resalta el rol de la economía: "La seguridad económica es la seguridad nacional", afirma la nueva ESN.

Gran parte del informe, por supuesto, está dedicada a los aspectos tradicionales de la seguridad nacional: presupuestos militares, alianzas y trato con países como Rusia y China, a los que la nueva ESN llama "competidores estratégicos" (en lugar de adversarios). Pero el crecimiento de la economía doméstica, el papel del comercio internacional y la nueva posición energética positiva de Estados Unidos también reciben una atención sustancial.

La administración del presidente Donald Trump, con razón, sostiene que sus reformas regulatorias y su legislación impositiva recientemente sancionada son estrategias para aumentar el crecimiento económico. Una economía más grande ofrece los recursos para forjar capacidades militares más sólidas. Pero ese crecimiento económico puede traducirse en una defensa nacional más efectiva sólo si el Congreso sanciona futuros incrementos en el presupuesto de defensa, apuntando a aquellas áreas que más necesitan expandirse.

To continue reading, register now.

Subscribe now for unlimited access to everything PS has to offer.

As a registered user, you can enjoy more PS content every month – for free.

Already have an account? Log in

Introductory Offer: Save 30% on PS Digital

Subscribe now to gain greater access to Project Syndicate – including every commentary and our entire On Point suite of subscriber-exclusive content – starting at less than $5 per month.

Subscribe Now

Martin Feldstein

Writing for PS since 2008
130 Commentaries

Martin Feldstein was Professor of Economics at Harvard University and President Emeritus of the National Bureau of Economic Research. He chaired President Ronald Reagan’s Council of Economic Advisers from 1982 to 1984. In 2006, he was appointed to President Bush's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board, and, in 2009, was appointed to President Obama's Economic Recovery Advisory Board. He was also on the board of directors of the Council on Foreign Relations, the Trilateral Commission, and the Group of 30, a non-profit, international body that seeks greater understanding of global economic issues.

new comment has been posted. new comments have been posted.

0 Comments on this paragraph, 7 Comments on this article

B Wilds Dec 29, 2017

People are naive if they do not recognize the distinct advantage a state-driven economy has over free enterprise, at least initially. A bit predatory in nature, such a system can quickly exploit the weaknesses of its competitors. It is important we recognize China is a state-run economy based on a business model that is geared to expand by crushing the competition.

Subsidizing those companies working within its system in a multitude of ways helps it achieve this goal. Countries that export goods at slightly below cost in exchange for manufacturing jobs are not stupid they are predatory and we in America are their prey. The article below explores the ramifications of this.

http://brucewilds.blogspot.com/2017/12/china-state-driven-business-model.html
A new reply to this comment has been posted.
Misty Fonseca Dec 28, 2017

China has always had a protectionist economy. The trade deficit will fix itself when U.S. stores start selling U.S products, like Wal-Mart who bring in $49 billion of Chinese goods a year. It's companies doing anything to maximize profits at the expense of American workers that is causing the trade deficit, and it's obvious. China is right to be protectionist to a degree. Look what is happening here and what happened in Mexico after NAFTA when the farmers and others were driven out of business.
A new reply to this comment has been posted.
Paul Friesen Dec 27, 2017

I find disgusting the amount of effort some Americans seem to feel should be put into maintaining their world economic dominance. The U.S. is not richer than China because its people are harder working or smarter. It is richer because of luck. Industry began clustering there long before it began clustering in China. Industry creates an environment in which more industry develops and which attracts other industry. The rich countries of today are just the ones that were lucky enough to develop industrial clusters early after the industrial revolution, giving them an advantage which has propagated down the centuries.
This system of in-built advantage is now, thankfully, breaking down. Starting with Japan, many countries of Asia have begun an industrialization process which has led to rapid growth and great improvements in welfare. But instead of celebrating this, many in rich countries try to hold the process back as much as possible. The U.S., especially, tries to use its economic clout to write the rules and bully the rest of the planet into accepting them.
I am glad that it now seems to have met its match in China. China is still a poor country. That means, despite what people like Trump say, that it does not yet have its fair share of industry. But that is changing fast. When it does get its fair share, it will be as rich per capita as other rich countries. And given that it has roughly 3X the population of the U.S., it will replace it as the world's dominant economy. I only hope that it does not prove to be as much of a bully as the U.S. has. I only hope that it does not misuse its dominance to try to keep as much industry for itself as possible instead of sharing with other countries that have yet to begin industrialization. It is not being given a good example to follow.
A new reply to this comment has been posted.
Steve Hurst Dec 27, 2017

'But that economic growth can translate into more effective national defense only if Congress enacts future increases in the defense budget'
Its unwise to have economic policy so heavily influenced by the war effort
A new reply to this comment has been posted.
Mirek Fatyga Dec 27, 2017

the unmistakable sign of a declining society is blaming others for your own failures.
A new reply to this comment has been posted.
Steve Hurst Dec 26, 2017

Doesnt appear to have been written in the marketplace
A new reply to this comment has been posted.