The Lure of Economic Nationalism

Book excerpt: The Lure of Economic Nationalism addresses the continued appeal of economic nationalism. It places economic nationalism in both historical and contemporary contexts, from mercantilism and the writings of Friedrich List to Brexit in the United Kingdom and the Trump Administration in the United States. It also considers the alternative to economic nationalism in the form of a rules-based, multilateral trading system and the World Trade Organization. The book argues that going beyond zero-sum outcomes is better suited to address current problems, including rising tides of ethnonationalism in many countries and pandemics. The book is written in an accessible manner and draws deeply from research in economics and political science. It will be of interest to policymakers, economists, political scientists and the informed public.