Abstract
Post the 2024 U.S. election, we saw a rise in populist sentiment and a focus on economic discontent. It brings a new sense of urgency to the question of how global economic networks contribute to rising income inequality. This paper studies the intersection of global trade, economic networks, and domestic political outcomes. It does so specifically in the context of growing disparities in wealth and opportunity. Economic and trade networks, driven by multinational corporations (MNC’s), international agreements, and financial markets, often concentrate power and wealth in ways that disproportionately benefit influential actors while marginalizing large swaths of the population. The election highlighted growing economic divides, we examine how these structures worsen inequality both within the U.S. and across the global South, where trade imbalances and exploitative labor practices persist. Demands for protectionism, anti-globalization rhetoric, and appeals for a rethinking of trade policy; all signal the rise of economic populism. It is evident that there is a growing public dissatisfaction with the uneven benefits of economic integration. This paper argues that while global networks of trade can stimulate growth, they can also be entrenched with systemic inequities, which call for policy reform aimed at redistributing economic power more equitably. This distribution must take place both within and between nations. Ultimately, to address the root causes of economic disruption and income inequality in the 21st century, it requires reframing the global trade conversation. This paper seeks to address the root causes of economic dislocation and income inequality in the 21st century.
Presenters
Lacee HarrisExecutive Director of Research Compliance, Research and Innovation, Drexel University, North Carolina, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Economic Inequality, Global Trade Networks, Populism, Income Distribution, Trade Policy
