Fundamentos neoclásicos de las políticas proteccionistas

This article examines the neoclassical foundations that justify protectionist policies in international trade, despite the theoretical dominance of free trade. Through a systematic review, it identifies models that —under specific conditions— either recommend (normative approach) or explain (positive approach) protectio-nism. It demonstrates that these arguments, structured into four normative cases (externalities, market power, domestic distortions, and redistributive inefficiency) and a theory of political economy, are theoretically sound and empirically relevant. The conclusion questions the exclusive association between neoclassicism and liberalism, highlighting the approach’s capacity to analyze protectionist realities.