Politics of the Present
Importing Political Polarization? The Electoral Consequences of Rising Trade Exposure
Thursday, April 12, 2018
David Autor (MIT) will use evidence from the worlds of economics and political science to examine the impact of economic change – and in particular the rising competition of foreign imports into the American market – on political polarization. Counties that were particularly exposed to foreign trade have become more likely to vote for the Republican candidate for president. The panel will address the question of economic and political responses to these trends that may have the potential to ameliorate political polarization.