Krugman does a no-show on the TPP - Dean Baker rebutts, NC digs deeper.
Paul Krugman, apparently pushed by his readers, published a column about TPP - saying as far as he can tell, it's no big deal.
The answer is that I’ve been having a hard time figuring out why this deal is especially important.
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OK, I don’t want to be too dismissive. But so far, I haven’t seen anything to justify the hype, positive or negative.
Dean Baker, notable for his excellent interview about the TPP on Bill Moyers' show, immediately took issue with Paul Krugman:
However it is a misunderstanding to see the TPP as being about trade. This is a deal that focuses on changes in regulatory structures to lock in pro-corporate rules. Using a "trade" agreement provides a mechanism to lock in rules that it would be difficult, if not impossible, to get through the normal political process.
It's kind of hard to understand how someone as savvy as Krugman can discuss the TPP and not mention the secrecy, the lobbyists on board, the leaked chapters, and the potential for abuse of the investor-state dispute settlement procedure. I think this should give people some serious pause before elevating Paul Krugman to an economic God, or even close.
Yes, that's criticism of a lefty (well, a self-avowed liberal) by a lefty (me, of the Crazy variety). Oh noes! Other people that dare go there are Naked Capitalism, whose post today digs much deeper into Krugman, by way of Steve Keen. A great read if you have the time. You'll note that NC is the blog of the woman in the linked Bill Moyers segment, Yves Smith.
Steve Keen is a non-classical economist. Classical economists all say that the banks themselves are not to be considered in economic modeling. Sounds weird? It does to me, and the NC post explains why. Steve Keen does model banking, and as it so happens he correctly predicted the crisis. He's also one that advocates a modern day debt jubilee. That may be why you hadn't heard of him.
I'm not saying Paul Krugman is bad bad bad. But if you're looking for analysis or solutions that dare question the system, consider alternative sources and ideas as well.
And don't forget: the TPP train is on the fast track.
= new reply since forum marked as read
Denial is a strong emotion! 
Heritage foundation, e.g.
NAFTA also benefited Canada enormously, at the cost of the US' growth.
Krugman doesn't see the world as politically myopic.
This is what the landscape looks like:
NAFTA has been horrific to the production industry, and Krugman was wrong for thinking the impacts were minimal. That doesn't make him right wing or his intentions right wing. Mexico is our neighbor and friend. We are a specter of empire. Must we treat our neighbors with isolationist BS?
Yves had a Krugman critique up this weekend about his view/non-view on the TPP which was a good read along with the comments. Nice to see that it's continuing with Steve Keen's input today.
Also...look forward to your post on the Brussel's Demonstration. That the fast track could still be moving forward is disappointing. Hopefully there will be more backlash from the countries involved in signing it and here at home. Both of my Senators the Dem & Repug support it. Nothing will dislodge the Democrat, it seems, because she's in a tough race given our state got taken over by the Repugs and she's a DINO anyway. 
Still..I hope.
