"Which nations have a higher standard of living? Those that trade a lot or those that trade very little?"
Even factoring in the depression, we had the highest standard of living in the world before WWII with no more than 5% of our economy dependent upon trade. And 99% of our standard of living was created by that 95% internal market. And as we become more dependent upon other countries for our standard of living, the more fragile and vulnerable it becomes to attack.
That is a very interesting fact. Now will you answer the question?
And as we become more dependent upon other countries for our standard of living, the more fragile and vulnerable it becomes to attack.
Is that a back door admission that trade raises our standard of living?