Generally speaking, from a minimalist consumer standpoint, I would say I am open to trade. As alluded to in class, we talked about how we learned about trade in history class, etc., where countries would trade with one another. What I found though, is it seems that trade initially started where people were seeking items of luxury, but then transititioned into items of necessity.
Think silkworms, tobacco, and (now) gasoline. These, many centuries ago (with exception of gasoline), were considered luxuries and were not readily available to the average consumer. Trade was an exclusive business that everyone (but only the rich and affluent could do so) would be a part of.
However, due to many economic advancements that have occurred, what was once viewed as a luxury now became necessity. This can be attributed to the increased demand for technology and travel. While tobacco products (depending on the nation) and silk are lesser a priority, gasoline is an essential commodity that most of the world uses. This of the cars, trucks, buses, planes, and much more that utilize it. Page 10 in the textbook discusses this in much greater detail.
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