【Passage 1】
For the most part, economists emphasize the negative effects of protectionism. It reduces international trade and raises prices for consumers. In addition, domestic firms that receive protection have less incentive to innovate. Although free trade puts uncompetitive firms out of business, the displaced workers and resources are ultimately allocated to other areas of the economy.
【参考译文】
经济学家多半强调保护主义的负面效应，认为保护主义不仅削弱了国际贸易，还抬升了消费价格。不仅如此，在贸易保护伞下受到恩荫的本土企业往往因此丧失了创新动力。在自由贸易的浪潮下，尽管缺乏竞争力的公司多以破产收场，但因此失业的工人和闲置的资源，依然可以在其他经济领域找到用武之地。
【Passage 2】
Imposing quotas is a method used to protect trade, since foreign companies cannot ship more products regardless of how low they set their prices. Countries that hope to help a new industry thrive locally often impose quotas on imported goods. They believe that such restrictions allow entities in the new industry to develop their own competitive advantages and produce the products efficiently.
【参考译文】
设定限额是贸易保护方式的一种，在此情况下，不论商品定价多低，国外企业得以进驻市场的产品数量始终有限。各国通常会对进口产品采取限额政策，以推动本国新兴产业的发展。经济学家认为，此类限制政策有助于新兴产业实体充分提升自身竞争力及商品生产效率。
【Passage 3】
Protectionism’s purpose is usually to create jobs for domestic workers. Companies that operate in industries protected by quotas hire workers locally. Another disadvantage of quotas is the reduction in the quality of products in the absence of competition from foreign companies. Without competition, local firms are less likely to invest in innovation and improve their products and services. Domestic sellers don’t have an incentive to enhance efficiency and lower their prices, and under such conditions, consumers eventually pay more for products and services they could receive from foreign competitors. As local companies lose competitiveness, they become pressured to outsource jobs. In the long-run, increasing protectionism commonly leads to layoffs and economic slowdown.
【参考译文】
贸易主义政策通常旨在创造本土就业岗位。受益于限额政策的业内公司通常只雇佣当地工人。限额消除了外国对手的竞争压力，致使国内产品的质量有所下降，这是限额政策的另一缺点。缺少竞争对手的刺激，本土企业往往不再大力投入创新，产品与服务质量也会大打折扣。国内商家既不注重提升生产效率、也不推出价格优惠措施，久而久之，消费者们宁愿花费更多钱财，去购买国外商家更胜一筹的产品与服务。而本土企业一旦丧失竞争力，就不得不外包产品和服务。从长远来看，保护主义盛行，通常会导致企业裁员，引起经济衰退。
