beggar-thy-neighbor
Harm rivals economically
Beggar-thy-neighbor describes policies that benefit one party at the expense of others—particularly economic measures like tariffs or currency devaluation that boost domestic industry while harming trading partners.
The term comes from a card game where players try to capture all the cards, leaving opponents with nothing.
Beggar-thy-neighbor trade policies sparked retaliation from allies.
Shielding local producers
- tariffTax on traded goods
- trade warRetaliatory economic hostilities
- devaluationLowering of currency worth
- mercantilismTrade policy favoring exports
import restriction · quota · dumping · currency manipulation · trade barrier · retaliation · zero-sum · trade deficit
Concern for personal advantage
- rivalryOngoing contest between opponents
- unilateralAffecting one side only
- exploitationSelfish use of others
- competitionStruggle for supremacy
zero-sum · shortsighted · retaliation · escalation · conflict · tensions · bilateral · defensive
protectionism
Shielding local producers
- tariffTax on traded goods
- trade warRetaliatory economic hostilities
- devaluationLowering of currency worth
mercantilism · import restriction · quota · dumping · currency manipulation · trade barrier · retaliation · zero-sum · trade deficit · isolationism
self-interest
Concern for personal advantage
- rivalryOngoing contest between opponents
- unilateralAffecting one side only
- exploitationSelfish use of others
competition · zero-sum · shortsighted · retaliation · escalation · conflict · tensions · bilateral · defensive · hostile
card game
Pastime using a deck
- children's gameStructured play for youth
- warArmed struggle between groups
- slapOpen-handed blow
pile · deck · turns · winner · parlor game · matching · flip · stack · luck · simple rules
beggar-thy-neighborfree trade
Unrestricted international exchange
multilateralism · fair trade · comparative advantage · economic cooperation · open markets
beggar-thy-neighborneighborliness
Friendly conduct toward locals
love thy neighbor · altruism · mutualism · mutual aid · generosity
beggar, beggars, beggared, beggaring, beggary, beggarly, begging, begged, neighbor