Cheating Cheaters of Cheatery: The Amazing Story of Brazil's Cotton War with the U.S.

Pizza Shirt: http://dftba.com/pizza Planet Money: http://dft.ba/-b6g

In which John Green discusses the insane story of how the United States of America ended up subsidizing the cotton industry in Brazil so that America could continue its own illegal subsidies of its cotton farmers. This year and every year until we end our illegal cotton subsidies, the U.S. federal government will pay $147 million of American tax dollars to Brazilian cotton farmers to make up for our illegal subsidies, which amount to more than $3 billion most years.

There's no question that American cotton subsidies create jobs, but there's ample evidence that the same $3 billion could be used to create MORE jobs, either through more efficient direct government stimulus or through just not spending that $3 billion and allowing private industry to create jobs with that 3 billion in capital. This is (one of the reasons) why economists generally hate industry-specific subsidies.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• finance
• economics
• macroeconomics
• international trade
• shirts
• t-shirts
• money
• globalism
• cotton
• electronics
• consumer goods
• brazil
• travel
• jobs
• employment
• nerdfighters
• John Green
• books
• literature
• agriculture
• economic policy

[spaztaastic]

DUDE. THE PORTUGUESE BOOK DOESN'T HAVE FEET!

[Key2MyHeart13]

This is why I subscribed. I learn something new in every video. xD

[levinian0]

How come me, a brazillian nerdfighter, didn't know about this video? HOW?

[SpinnerMC]

Liberia: "TAX ALL OF THE THINGS!!"

[Umnbo]

u not only smart .... but hot... im from Brazil.now.American from I *lol weallbeingpuncked anyways...............

[TheEremenion]

Why would you want a cheese burger after having to blend one of those?

[tbonesullivan1]

HOLY SHIT! YOU LIVE NEAR ME! I GO SHOPPING AT THAT KROGER NEXT TO THAT BUFFALO WILD WINGS AND I SHOULD probably stop talking in caps that is annoying BUT I LIVE NEAR A YOUTUBE AWESOME-MAN!

[TheWeepingAngels190]

Buffalo Wild Wings is slowly inching towards your ear.

[RIPCompanionCube]

Am I the only one who feels embarrased when John or Hank do videos, y'know, in public?

[hushyourjawss]

why cotton ? Interesting. Solar or wind maybe ? Naaaaaaaa The WTO? really? Do we subsidize them as well? Kinda like the UN. How about China's currency? Cotton ????

Interesting 18.00 for shirt????? Could it be your receiving a benefit for the cotton industry???

[benjy4770]

y u no wear seatbelt