Faculty Sponsor: Professor Lindsay Dolan
Sarah Bernstein
Sarah Bernstein is a rising senior (’24) from New Jersey. She is a Government and Economics double major with a minor in the College of East Asian Studies (CEAS). Her interests include going on walks and hikes, cooking, and enjoying time with friends. On campus, Sarah is also an Academic Peer Advisor and a research assistant for the Wesleyan Media Project.
Abstract: The Heckscher-Ohlin theory, which predicts that individuals’ trade attitudes are related to their factor endowment, is one of the most prominent theories used to predict individuals’ attitudes toward trade. Yet, there has been a lack of literature testing this theory in Asia. In this analysis, we aim to fill this gap, focusing on skill endowment. We explore the connection between education (a proxy for skill) and trade preferences using survey data from the 15 countries in Wave 5 (2018 to 2021) of the Asian Barometer Survey. The results indicate moderate support that the Heckscher-Ohlin theory helps explain how trade attitudes in Asia develop. Other theories, individual countries’ historical, political, societal, and cultural contexts, and geopolitics also inevitably contribute to individuals’ trade attitudes.