Teaching Real-World Political Economy: Simulating a WTO Negotiation

Abstract

If free trade is a no-brainer, why isn't trade free?" Students often express such sentiments at the conclusion of a typical international trade course, during which they have learned that free trade is optimal, but that countries continue to restrict trade substantially. This article describes a simulation of a round of trade liberalization under the auspices of the World Trade Organization (WTO). The simulation differs from others in the literature in that it represents a substantial component of the course, but it is not the course's focal point. Because the simulation has proven beneficial to students, the article attempts to provide a blueprint that will enable other professors to implement the project with minimal start-up costs.