Globalization Paradox

Economist Dani Rodrik takes issue with the prevailing view that the world should move steadily toward deeper global integration. He contends that the social contracts democratic states rely on often collide with the demands of the global economy, and that when they do, domestic goals should come first. His alternative is a form of globalization that each country can tailor to its needs, held together by a minimal set of shared international rules. The book examines trade, global finance and labor markets, the three areas where he sees these tensions most sharply in the world today. Rodrik writes with wit and an affectionate skepticism toward his own profession's favorite ideas, using historical examples to support his argument.