

Ideas of Globalisation: What’s Gone Wrong? w/Dani Rodrik
73 snips May 15, 2025
Dani Rodrik, a leading economist renowned for his insights on globalization, discusses the unsustainable nature of current global systems. He reflects on his early predictions and examines the shifts in political perspectives since the 1990s. Rodrik highlights the clash of populism and technocracy, and the influence of technological advancements on governance. He emphasizes the need for innovative institutions in the face of rapid societal changes and proposes a balanced approach to globalization that prioritizes worker welfare and equitable economic solutions.
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Shift in Globalization Mindset Post-1990
- After 1990, globalization shifted from a means to an end, with policymakers prioritizing joining the global economy over domestic goals.
- Both the political center-left and center-right agreed on the need to integrate, differing mainly on strategies to achieve it.
Globalization as a Political Choice
- Globalization was a conscious political decision disguised as an inevitable force of nature.
- This false inevitability led to a backlash as people felt powerless and sought to reclaim control.
Loss of Trade Management Tools
- Before WTO rules, temporary trade protections managed the negative effects of globalization and maintained support for openness.
- WTO made such protections illegal, limiting governments' ability to manage trade impacts.