“The Choice” , is a book that would make supporters of free trade smile with glee. Roberts in this informative book explains the benefits of free trade. In this book Roberts addresses protectionism and the possible results if its strictly enforced versus if its lax. You also get a sense of his idealism of completely eliminating protectionism . One would expect the book to full economic theory , but Roberts took a unique approach in his way to talk to the reader about free trade. A successful businessman by the name of Ed is our main character of the story , and will learn a valuable lesson by the end of the story. The story begins not with Ed though , but with famous economist David Ricardo. In the first scene Ricardo is undergoing trial …show more content…
Throughout their journey Ed sees his children in a world of protectionism and a world where it is not as prevalent. One of the first points Mr. Ricardo reviews is the “Roundabout way to wealth”. At this point the most central focus of the story is brought up through the example of how we do business with Japan. Japan will sell us televisions , and in return they use the money to buy products from us. Roberts did a great job of describing the mentality of the general “American Businessman” and their ability to only see profit as money. Mr. Ricardo explains the concept opportunity costs to Ed , and how by taking away time invested into televisions can be used for something more significant to humanities progression. Roberts will constantly repeat this fact to the reader , as well as list possibilities of how the world could like it versus what they know now. Through these different possibilities Ed will see his son and his daughter and their lives in America. In both realities , the children are doing well regardless of the enforcement of protectionism , but by showing this it gives the reader a clear picture of how the world could while keeping Ed oblivious to why this may be a thing since both children are doing