beggar-my-neighbour

adjective

Meaning

A policy or strategy that seeks to improve one's own economic situation at the expense of others, often leading to mutual decline.

Examples

  • The government adopted a beggar-my-neighbour approach by devaluing its currency to undercut international competitors.
  • Economists warned that such beggar-my-neighbour policies would trigger a global recession.

Synonyms: selfish, predatory, protectionist, mercantilist