and South Africans ranked highest. In fact, among the 47 countries surveyed, the United States ranked by far the

lowest on this measure, followed by Egypt, Italy, and Argentina.

Country

Very Good Somewhat Good Total

China

38%

South Africa

42%

South Korea

24%

Germany

Canada

30%

29%

United Kingdom 28%

Mexico

Brazil

Japan

22%

13%

17%

United States

14%

53%

43%

62%

55%

53%

50%

55%

59%

55%

45%

91%

87%

86%

85%

82%

78%

77%

72%

72%

59%

TABLE 20.3 The Status of Growing Trade Ties between

Countries (Source: http://www.pewglobal.org/files/pdf/

258.pdf)

One final reason why economists often treat the national interest argument skeptically is that lobbyists and

politicians can tout almost any product as vital to national security. In 1954, the United States became worried

that it was importing half of the wool required for military uniforms, so it declared wool and mohair to be
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