Definition

Noun: A national economic or trade policy designed to benefit one's own country by harming the economic interests of other countries, often through tariffs, currency devaluation, or export subsidies. It is a self-defeating strategy in the long term, as it typically provokes retaliation.

Usage

This term is used to describe a specific, often short-sighted, approach to international relations and economics. It is typically used in formal or academic discussions about trade wars, protectionism, and competitive devaluations.

Examples

• The country's imposition of high tariffs was criticized as a classic beggar-my-neighbor policy.
• Economists warned that a global recession could trigger a wave of beggar-my-neighbor policies.
• The finance minister denied pursuing a beggar-my-neighbor policy, insisting the currency measures were for domestic stability.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in its hyphenated adjectival form: "beggar-my-neighbor tactics" or "a beggar-my-neighbor approach."
• It can be applied metaphorically beyond international policy to describe any strategy where one party's gain is achieved by directly harming others in a closed system.

Variants and Related Words

• Beggar-thy-neighbor: An alternative, synonymous spelling.
• Protectionism (n): The general economic policy of restricting imports to shield domestic industries.
• Zero-sum game (n): A situation where one participant's gain is equivalent to another's loss.

Synonyms

• Predatory policy
• Mercantilist policy (in a specific historical context)
• Selfish national policy

Antonyms

• Free trade policy
• Cooperative policy
• Win-win strategy

Related Idioms/Phrases

• "Race to the bottom": A related concept describing a situation where competition leads to continuously worsening standards or conditions for all parties, which can be the result of beggar-my-neighbor policies.

Noun

1. a policy of promoting oneself at the expense of others; used especially of national policy
   • the United States has pursued a beggar-my-neighbor policy