Suppose a Recent Study Shows That in Country A, Consumers

Essay

Suppose a recent study shows that in country A, consumers pay an average of about $169,000 per job per year maintained by import protection. Given that these employees earned much less than $169,000 per year, it would be much cheaper to simply pay these workers not to work and impose no import restrictions. Why do you think that, in spite of the fact that there is a net welfare loss, the government of country A has maintained these barriers?