Why Does Globalization Fuel Populism? Economics, Culture, and the Rise of Right-wing Populism

Dani Rodrik

No 27526, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: There is compelling evidence that globalization shocks, often working through culture and identity, have played an important role in driving up support for populist movements, particularly of the right-wing kind. I start with an empirical analysis of the 2016 presidential election in the U.S. to show globalization-related attitudinal variables were important correlates of the switch to Trump. I then provide a conceptual framework that identifies four distinct channels through which globalization can stimulate populism, two each on the demand and supply sides of politics, respectively. I evaluate the empirical literature with the help of this framework, discussing trade, financial globalization, and immigration separately. I conclude the paper by discussing some apparently anomalous cases where populists have been against, rather than in favor of trade protection.

JEL-codes: F1 F3 F6 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020-07
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Published as Dani Rodrik, 2021. "Why Does Globalization Fuel Populism? Economics, Culture, and the Rise of Right-Wing Populism," Annual Review of Economics, vol 13(1), pages 133-170.

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