Victoria Espinel

Globalization: Path to Prosperity or Race to the Bottom?

Staci Warden, Victoria Espinel, Tony Fratto, Francisco González Díaz, Clark Roberts, Stefan Selig

Panelists analyzed the economic and political complexities of globalization, highlighting how the Trans-Pacific Partnership addresses modern digital flows while contrasting steady public support for trade with the acute, localized disruptions that drive populist sentiment. Evidence showed that economies integrated into global value chains outperformed protectionist ones, yet the discussion emphasized the urgent need to expand worker retraining programs and shift the policy narrative to explain the benefits of an open economy to younger generations. Ultimately, the dialogue argued that maintaining international connectivity is essential for addressing cross-border threats and sustaining future economic growth despite the challenges of the 2016 political landscape.