How do Rodrik's ideas apply to modern trade debates?
My work directly informs current trade debates by suggesting that the benefits of trade agreements are not automatic and can be unevenly distributed. We need to consider the institutional capacity of nations to manage the adjustment costs that trade liberalization can create. Policymakers should focus on domestic policies that support workers and industries affected by trade, and ensure that trade agreements do not preempt a nation's ability to regulate in the public interest. The focus should be on 'sane' trade, not just 'free' trade.
Ask Dani Rodrik the follow-up →