I wrote: >The simple index [ of openness for the US] rises, steadily but with a steepening curve, from 4 per cent in 1959 to over 12 per cent in 1996.< Tavis replies>>Which is to say, not much, relative to the rest of the world.<< agreed, but the point is that the US economy has changed and is changing, seemingly at an accelerated pace (whereas you had something like that the role of exports was stable). Further, simply the fact that the US has a large economy means that it will have a relatively low openness index forever (as long as transportation costs are positive rather than zero). After all, in some places in the Netherlands, if they buy bread, it counts as an "Import" since it comes from Belgium or Germany or France. Whereas if someone in Illinois buys something from Missouri (across the Mississippi River) it does not count that way. in pen-l solidarity, Jim Devine
