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Defying Gravity: The 1932 Imperial Economic Conference and the Reorientation of Canadian Trade

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  • David S. Jacks

Abstract

In the wake of the Great Depression, the Canadian government embarked on a stunning reversal in its commercial policy. A key element of its response was the promotion of intra-imperial trade at the Imperial Economic Conference of 1932. This paper addresses whether or not Canadian trade was able to defy gravity and divert trade flows towards other signatories at Ottawa. The results strongly suggest that the conference was a failure from the Canadian perspective. Potential sources of this failure include unreasonable expectations about the likely reductions in trade costs and a neglect of key considerations related to certainty and credibility.

Suggested Citation

  • David S. Jacks, 2011. "Defying Gravity: The 1932 Imperial Economic Conference and the Reorientation of Canadian Trade," NBER Working Papers 17242, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:17242
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    Cited by:

    1. Roberto Bonfatti, 2012. "Trade and the Pattern of European Imperialism, 1492-2000," Economics Series Working Papers 618, University of Oxford, Department of Economics.
    2. Jacks, David S., 2014. "Defying gravity: The Imperial Economic Conference and the reorientation of Canadian trade," Explorations in Economic History, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 19-39.
    3. Marc Badia-Miró & Anna Carreras-Marín & Christopher M. Meissner, 2014. "Geography, Policy, or Productivity? Regional Trade in five South American Countries, 1910-1950," NBER Working Papers 20790, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • F1 - International Economics - - Trade
    • N7 - Economic History - - Economic History: Transport, International and Domestic Trade, Energy, and Other Services

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