Lecture 13

Question 1

Automation and technology

Answer 1

• Many of the lost jobs placed on foreign competition are
  due to technological change
   Research indicates 80% of manufacturing jobs lost are due to
  technology (Autor et al. 2013)
• In fact, manufacturing has risen in the US & EU if
  measured by total output and not employment.

Question 2

Rodrik Trilemma

Answer 2

One argument against globalization is that nations must give up
some sovereignty or democracy.
Rodrik’s Trilemma states it is impossible for countries to
simultaneously achieve:
* Hyper-globalization - No political or cultural barriers to the flow of goods and
investment
* Sovereignty – pursue the policies that it chooses
* Democracy – liberty and political equality

Question 3

Backlash globalization

Answer 3

1. It is real and driven by economic anxiety/competition
2. It is real but driven by “othering” or ethnic/racial hostility
3. It isn’t real, globalization is being blamed for other things
   a) Domestic policies that drive inequality
   b) Automation & robots
4. Everything is fine…

Question 4

Was trump response to globalization?

Answer 4

• Maybe
• Some evidence that exposure to manufacturing job losses
  leads to less support for incumbents
• Though, Trump supporters are not the poorest in the
  country. Their income is higher than Non-Trump voters
  on average.
• Trump support is empirically driven more by ”othering”
  or cultural backlash – see work by Pippa Norris

Question 5

Unsatisfactory globalization conclusion

Answer 5

• Some but not conclusive evidence that there is a globalization backlash
• Increasingly, more evidence that social (status threat), not economic, factors are driving
  Brexit & Trump support and broader populist backlash.
• May not be either or: economic precarity may heighten cultural/sociopsychological
  variables
• Still much more research is needed to answer this really important question.