Comments on: Globalization past and future http://www.irisheconomy.ie/index.php/2009/02/15/globalization-past-and-future/ Sun, 12 Feb 2012 21:14:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: FERGUS O'ROURKE http://www.irisheconomy.ie/index.php/2009/02/15/globalization-past-and-future/#comment-1405 FERGUS O'ROURKE Wed, 18 Feb 2009 10:54:38 +0000 http://www.irisheconomy.ie/?p=724#comment-1405 But is there any real controversy about the claim that globalisation is "harming poorer workers in richer countries", at least in relative terms, and at least from time to time in absolute terms ? Overall, everyone gains, but there is a noticeable skewing of the gains towards those with greater endowments of skill. They, or I should say "we", also pay less of the costs. But is there any real controversy about the claim that globalisation is “harming poorer workers in richer countries”, at least in relative terms, and at least from time to time in absolute terms ?

Overall, everyone gains, but there is a noticeable skewing of the gains towards those with greater endowments of skill. They, or I should say “we”, also pay less of the costs.

]]> By: John McHale http://www.irisheconomy.ie/index.php/2009/02/15/globalization-past-and-future/#comment-1319 John McHale Mon, 16 Feb 2009 00:30:40 +0000 http://www.irisheconomy.ie/?p=724#comment-1319 Kevin, timely and though-provoking essay. It is a call to arms for vigilance against crisis-inspired protectionism. The longer-term pressures on the liberal economic order you describe mean that any backsliding will be hard to reverse. It will be interesting to see what course Obama will choose. I sense he is a instinctive multilateralist. But he faces a sceptical democratic party and country. Should he spend political capital fighting for multilateralism -- the new trade round, more influence by developing countries in the IFIs, cooperation on climate change -- or save it for putting out inevitable protectionist fires like the Buy American provisions? Kevin, timely and though-provoking essay. It is a call to arms for vigilance against crisis-inspired protectionism. The longer-term pressures on the liberal economic order you describe mean that any backsliding will be hard to reverse.

It will be interesting to see what course Obama will choose. I sense he is a instinctive multilateralist. But he faces a sceptical democratic party and country. Should he spend political capital fighting for multilateralism — the new trade round, more influence by developing countries in the IFIs, cooperation on climate change — or save it for putting out inevitable protectionist fires like the Buy American provisions?

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