Isn't it a similar case with the American busses? They are crap because they're protected?
Similar with Boeing too.
Similar with Boeing too.
Every country who isn't just getting exploited for their natural resources or labor has built their industry by protecting it.
In any case, the process really got going under Jimmy Carter. If we're talking about airlines, I guess you could point to the Airline Deregulation Act. The airline industry had been built in the first place by what people in this thread would call "protectionist" policies.
Stock buybacks are a big part of the story as well. These were illegal market manipulation I think from the Great Depression until the 80's under Reagan.