But if countries like China can combine Western technology with low wages, then trade with China will lower Western wages. True, the West will be able to get its goods more cheaply; but, as Samuelson put it, “being able to purchase groceries 20% cheaper at Wal-Mart does not necessarily make up for the wage losses.”
萨缪尔森把比较优势理论称为经济学中最美丽的部分，但他晚年的思想也有了一点变化。他说，自由贸易完美适用于固定不变的技术。但如果像中国这样的国家可以将西方技术与低工资相结合，那么与中国进行贸易会拉低西方工资。诚然，西方将能够以更低的价格获得商品；但是，萨缪尔森指出，“能在沃尔玛买到八折商品并不一定能够弥补工资损失。”