The Economic History Podcast Globalization, Trade and the Populist Response
Oct 31, 2024
In this discussion, Kevin H. O'Rourke, a leading economist and expert in trade and globalization, explores the evolution and measurement of globalization. He highlights how the U.S. and U.K. adopted protectionist policies differently during the 1930s and analyzes the role of tariffs in economic growth. O'Rourke connects the 'losers' of globalization to the rise of populism, contrasting it with historic U.S. populism. His insights reveal how today's trade dynamics echo past geopolitical tensions and shape current economic landscapes.
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Secure Tenure Then Write Books
- Do what interests you but recognise modern job markets demand technical skills for tenure.
- O'Rourke recommends securing tenure with rigorous methods, then write broader historical books.
Price Convergence As Integration Signal
- Price convergence driven by transport and technology marks a useful way to measure integration.
- O'Rourke and colleagues point to the 1840s steamship-driven fall in freight rates as a globalization inflection point.
Globalisation Produces Political Backlash
- Globalisation creates winners and losers through factor-price effects, provoking political backlash.
- In the late 19th century commodity backlash manifested as tariffs while migration restrictions targeted labour-market effects.
