Morals of Economic Internationalism

"The Morals of Economic Internationalism" by J. A. Hobson is an exploration of right and wrong in global economics, penned in the early 1900s. The book asks what countries owe each other when they trade and rely on each other, looking at how individuals, companies, and countries are held to different ethical standards. Hobson points out the flawed thinking behind nationalistic economic ideas, like the false belief that exporting is always better than importing. He pushes for countries to work together economically, especially after wartime troubles, stating that helping each other is the only way forward. Hobson believes that economic connections bring moral duties, telling people to move away from selfish nationalism and toward a fair international economic system that helps all countries, particularly those that are struggling.