What is discounted is the value of a decent middle class job to a high school graduate in many parts of the country. The qualitative value of that loss of human happiness to pride, satisfaction, purpose is not measured by traditional economists. Now, 25 years out from NAFTA and the start of major deindustrialization in the Midwest we are seeing the fruits of those globalist policies. The rise of deaths of despair which is reducing lifespan for middle aged males in the United States.
This is the tragedy so silently born by The many that eludes the “but Wal-Mary lowered prices” crowd that is enriched by free trade.