Trade Preferences: Do Voters Value Co-Nationals More Than Trading Partners?

How do citizens value their own livelihoods versus those of people in trading partner countries? This study examines how ethnocentric valuation and moral exclusion—implicit biases favoring one's own group—affect attitudes toward international trade. We hypothesize that views on competition shape these biases, linking competitive attitudes to stronger preference for domestic over foreign welfare.

Using survey experiments with representative samples of Americans and Canadians, this article tests whether beliefs about trade as a competition or lack thereof intensify ethnocentric valuation and moral exclusion regarding job gains/losses. It explores how citizens' perceptions of international competition influence their willingness to accept trade-related benefits for foreigners while protecting domestic jobs.

Key Findings:

• Trade is perceived differently by voters based on their views of competition
• Survey experiments reveal differential treatment toward in-group versus out-group job impacts
• Competitive attitudes strengthen ethnocentric valuation and moral exclusion effects

Methodology & Context:

• Tested hypotheses using multiple variables tied to competitive beliefs across two countries
• Explored variations between the USA (high competitiveness) and Canada (lower competitiveness)
• Assessed impact of trade-related job gains/losses on public preference