International trade is a complex jigsaw of interconnected parts impacting imports, exports, and consumers. Tariffs play an important role, but can become political tools and create a barrier to trade. They were intended to protect domestic industries from unfair competition, but in the process, they became an important source of revenue for governments. Do they serve the intended purpose, particularly if applied indiscriminately? Donald Matheson MacLean looks at this issue in Brain Trauma Economics: Tariffs and Other Bad Ideas. He describes the different types of tariffs, duties, and their history. A tariff is a levy imposed on imported goods to make them more expensive and discourage competition. The rate can be calculated as a fixed amount or based on a percentage of value. Other forms of duty are special charges levied on goods such as alcohol and tobacco (excise duty), even if they are locally produced. Additional measures can include quotas and subsidies, direct taxation, anti-dumping duties, or even trade sanctions. All these measures are reviewed in depth, as they can have unintended consequences that outweigh the benefits.

Brain Trauma Economics is an astute analysis of the impact of tariffs on the global economy. In theory, tariffs encourage the buying of locally produced goods and protect jobs, but conversely, they can be inflationary, entrench inefficiency, and stifle international trade. Other downside outcomes include political manipulation through trade wars, as has been seen recently when the United States imposed punitive tariffs on countries such as China. Donald Matheson MacLean concludes that consumers ultimately pay the price in terms of more expensive goods. He questions whose interests come first, the consumer or the business world. The poor are most affected. Few, if any, nations are self-sufficient. It is clear how interdependent we are on global trade, so imposing tariffs makes little sense. Solutions include the selective application of tariffs on a short-term basis. Free trade areas can be established, fair trade policies adopted, and substitutes such as carbon taxes imposed. While written from an American perspective, the principles are globally applicable. The text is well written, accessible to a wide audience, and well researched, with numerous examples provided. It is rounded off with a list of references.

Brain Trauma Economics: Tariffs and Other Bad Ideas by Donald Matheson MacLean is a sharp, accessible, and detailed examination of how tariffs function (and often malfunction) within the modern global economy. With wit and clarity, MacLean untangles the long history and unintended consequences of tariffs, exploring their evolution from ancient tolls to their current role as political weapons and economic disruptors. Covering everything from the Smoot-Hawley disaster to the ongoing U.S.–China trade conflict, the book examines who tariffs help, who they hurt, and how they reverberate through supply chains, politics, consumer prices, and international diplomacy. Whether analyzing oddball historical levies like beard taxes or modern ‘fart taxes,’ the book pulls no punches while offering a grounded, informative perspective for students, professionals, and anyone seeking to understand the economic tools shaping our lives.

Author Donald Matheson MacLean offers a refreshingly candid, often humorous dissection of one of the most misunderstood forces in global economics with professional and practical knowledge. There’s also a passion for making sense of why the current political climate doesn’t seem to care about making sense anymore. Maclean makes the complex concepts of the book accessible and engaging so we can start to piece together what’s happening in the world right now. His real-world examples and historical context are used to full effect for us to engage with economics in real terms and make sense of the (often misleading) rhetoric we’re fed in the news. The organization of ideas builds well, making this book a great primer equally suited to curious readers and policy students because it takes academic insights into clarity. Overall, Brain Trauma Economics: Tariffs and Other Bad Ideas is a highly recommended read for its timely and provocative ideas that challenge conventional wisdom on trade, globalization, and economic nationalism.