The Globalization Paradox

1. Markets and governments are complementary, not adversaries

Markets require other social institutions to support them. They rely on courts and legal arrangements to enforce property rights and on regulators to rein in abuse and fix market failures.

Markets need governance. Contrary to the belief that markets function best with minimal government intervention, history shows that successful market economies require robust institutional support. This includes:

• Legal frameworks to protect property rights and enforce contracts
• Regulatory bodies to prevent market abuse and correct failures
• Fiscal and monetary policies to stabilize economic cycles
• Social safety nets to mitigate risks and maintain political support

Government size correlates with economic development. Paradoxically, the most advanced market economies tend to have larger public sectors. This is because as economies grow more complex, they require more sophisticated institutional underpinnings to function efficiently and equitably.

2. The "Golden Straitjacket" of hyperglobalization is unsustainable

Democratic politics casts a long shadow on financial markets and makes it impossible for a nation to integrate deeply with the world economy.

Hyperglobalization constraints democracy. The pursuit of deep economic integration through uniform global rules conflicts with democratic decision-making at the national level. This tension manifests in several ways:

• Pressure to conform to international standards in areas like labor laws, environmental regulations, and tax policies
• Reduced ability to respond to domestic economic challenges and social preferences
• Increased vulnerability to external economic shocks

The Argentina case study. Argentina's experience in the 1990s and early 2000s illustrates the perils of prioritizing global market integration over domestic economic management. Despite initially successful reforms, the rigid currency peg and other market-oriented policies ultimately led to economic collapse and social unrest when they conflicted with domestic needs.

3. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to economic development

Countries need room to experiment with alternative, often unorthodox arrangements.

Institutional diversity is key. Successful economies have developed through various institutional arrangements tailored to their specific contexts. Examples include:

• Japan's state-guided industrialization in the late 19th century
• South Korea and Taiwan's export-oriented strategies with significant government intervention
• China's gradual, experimental approach to market reforms

The importance of policy space. Developing countries need flexibility to design and implement policies that address their unique challenges and capitalize on their specific advantages. This may include:

• Selective trade protection for infant industries
• Capital controls to manage financial volatility
• Industrial policies to promote economic diversification

4. The Bretton Woods compromise balanced globalization and national autonomy

The Bretton Woods regime was a shallow multilateralism that permitted policy makers to focus on domestic social and employment needs while enabling global trade to recover and flourish.

A pragmatic approach to globalization. The post-World War II Bretton Woods system struck a balance between international economic integration and domestic policy autonomy. Key features included:

• Fixed but adjustable exchange rates
• Capital controls to allow for independent monetary policy
• Trade liberalization focused on manufactured goods, with exceptions for sensitive sectors

Successful outcomes. This compromise facilitated:

• Rapid economic growth in both developed and developing countries
• Expansion of welfare states in advanced economies
• Diverse national development strategies, including import substitution in many developing countries

5. Financial globalization has often done more harm than good

The failure of Argentina's political leaders was ultimately a matter not of will but of ability.

The risks of unrestrained capital flows. Unrestricted financial globalization has often led to:

• Increased economic volatility and financial crises
• Reduced policy space for developing countries
• Pressure to prioritize financial market confidence over domestic economic needs

Rethinking capital controls. A more nuanced approach to financial globalization is needed, recognizing that:

• Capital controls can be legitimate tools for economic management
• Financial regulations should be tailored to national circumstances
• International cooperation should focus on managing spillovers rather than imposing uniform rules

6. Labor mobility offers untapped potential for global economic gains

Nothing else on their agenda—not Doha, not global financial regulation, not even expanding foreign aid—comes even close in terms of potential impact on enlarging the global pie.

The benefits of increased labor mobility. Allowing more workers from poor countries to work temporarily in rich countries could:

• Generate substantial income gains for migrant workers
• Provide skills and capital for economic development in sending countries
• Increase global economic output more than further trade liberalization

A proposal for managed migration. A carefully designed temporary work visa program could:

• Expand rich countries' labor force by 3% without major disruptions
• Include incentives for workers to return to their home countries
• Balance economic benefits with social and political considerations in host countries

7. China's rise presents both opportunities and challenges for the global economy

China embodies all the major challenges that the global economy must overcome.

China's economic impact. China's rapid growth and integration into the global economy has:

• Provided low-cost goods benefiting consumers worldwide
• Lifted hundreds of millions out of poverty
• Created tensions with trading partners over issues like trade imbalances and currency policies

Accommodating China's development model. A sustainable approach to China's role in the global economy requires:

• Recognizing China's right to pursue its own development strategy
• Addressing legitimate concerns about unfair trade practices
• Finding ways to reduce global imbalances without undermining China's growth

8. A "thin" globalization respects national democratic choices

We need a different vision, one that safeguards the considerable benefits of a moderate globalization while explicitly recognizing the virtues of national diversity and the centrality of national governance.

Rethinking global economic rules. A more sustainable form of globalization would:

• Focus on removing the most egregious barriers to international exchange
• Allow greater policy space for countries to pursue their own economic and social objectives
• Emphasize procedural requirements for domestic decision-making rather than imposing substantive policy outcomes

Benefits of a thinner globalization. This approach could:

• Enhance the legitimacy of global economic arrangements
• Reduce tensions between globalization and democracy
• Allow for diverse national approaches to shared global challenges

9. Global governance is neither feasible nor desirable in the near future

The world economy has outgrown the classical "liberal" economic order, but there were as yet no palatable alternatives on offer.

Limitations of global governance. Attempts to create strong global institutions face several obstacles:

• Diverse national preferences and circumstances
• Lack of global political community or shared identity
• Difficulty in achieving democratic legitimacy at the global level

The continued relevance of nation-states. For the foreseeable future:

• National governments will remain the primary locus of democratic decision-making
• International cooperation should focus on managing interdependence rather than deep integration
• Global rules should aim to expand rather than restrict national policy space

10. Reforming international trade rules can enhance economic stability

In effect, the agreement would be recast into an expanded Agreement on Developmental and Social Safeguards.

Rethinking trade agreements. A reformed trade regime could:

• Expand safeguard provisions to cover a broader range of social and developmental concerns
• Focus on procedural requirements for domestic decision-making rather than specific policy outcomes
• Allow greater flexibility for countries to address domestic economic and social challenges

Balancing openness and stability. These reforms would:

• Enhance the legitimacy of the global trading system
• Reduce the risk of backlash against globalization
• Provide a safety valve for addressing domestic concerns without resorting to protectionism

Last updated: March 21, 2025