Has Globalization Gone Too Far?

By Dani Rodrik

Book Overview

Globalization is exposing social fissures between those with the education, skills, and mobility to flourish in an unfettered world market--the apparent "winners"--and those without. These apparent "losers" are increasingly anxious about their standards of living and their precarious place in an integrated world economy. The result is severe tension between the market and broad sectors of society, with governments caught in the middle. Compounding the very real problems that need to be addressed by all involved, the knee-jerk rhetoric of both sides threatens to crowd out rational debate. From the United States to Europe to Asia, positions are hardening.

Dani Rodrik brings a clear and reasoned voice to these questions. Has Globalization Gone Too Far? takes an unblinking and objective look at the benefits--and risks--of international economic integration, and criticizes mainstream economists for downplaying its dangers. It also makes a unique and persuasive case that the "winners" have as much at stake from the possible consequences of social instability as the "losers." As Rodrik points out, "... social disintegration is not a spectator sport--those on the sidelines also get splashed with mud from the field. Ultimately, the deepening of social fissures can harm all."

President Clinton read the book and it provided the conceptual basis for the trade/IMF portions of his State of the Union message in January 1998.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0881322415
• ISBN13: 9780881322415
• Release Date: March 1997
• Publisher: Peterson Institute for International Economic
• Length: 128 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 6.0" x 9.0"
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Rodrik gets it right

In his spellbinding account of the economic realities of globalization, Dani Rodrik gets it right. Whether it is his accounting of the increased elasticity in the job market or his discussion of labor as a factor bearing a higher incidence of non-wage costs, today's economy makes Rodrik seem prophetic. It is a book whose time has come, any thinking person should buy this book.

good source of hot topic

It seems that over the past few years, the topic of globilization aond free trade have become hot topics because of events like the WTO protests in Seattle, the World Bank protests in DC and Ralph Nader's run for the presidency in 1996 and 2000.Has globilization gone too far? is a good source for those people trying to find out more about the issue because it shows what happens under globilization both theoritically and in real life. It presents the arguements against free trade and the problems associated it with it like loss of jobs and capital outflows so it is good to understand the oposing view.

Provides indepth analysis of the issues involved...

This is an excellent book that dwells in to the effects of globalization, related issues and potential solutions. It discusses social issues and policies within the context of globalization. It also dwells in to the issues related to labor standards and income distribution. Rodrik presents good solutions but they are debatable and not easy to implement. I feel that Rodrik discusses solely from the perspectives of industrialized nations' interests. I would have liked him to explore more from the perspectives of under developed/developing nations'.

ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS ON THE TOPIC!

Seldom can one find an economist whose sensitivity to political and social issues coexist in perfect harmony with a technically impecable background. Rodrik is one such rare creature. His book addresses the issue of globalization, defying economic theories and pointing straight to the problem: globalization engenders social instability, that in turn unables financial/economic stability to be sustained. Accoridng to Rodrik, unless attention is given to the "lossers" of this process, protectionism may strike back. Rodrik is successful in showing that globalization is NOT "the end of history", and should not be taken for granted.