Since when have OECD countries not been in autarky? What happened when there was autarky?
We look at the degree of external openness and the size of gross external assets and debts of the United States, the euro zone and Japan. Based on this analysis, we can conclude that these countries were in a virtual economic and financial autarky until 1993. In the period of autarky, growth was strong during expansion periods, unemployment was already periodically high, inequality was lower, and corporate earnings were also lower. This shows that the end of autarky has primarily benefited companies.