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In Defense of Globalization
Book

In Defense of Globalization

Jagdish Bhagwati
Oxford UP, 2007

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Editorial Rating

7

Qualities

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Recommendation

Jagdish Bhagwati is a true believer in the righteousness of international trade, and in this pro-globalization work, he takes a tone of nearly evangelical fervor. This tactic is likely to please those who agree with him, but it’s unlikely to win over sceptics. Bhagwati makes no attempt to hide his disdain for the patchouli-scented protesters who disagree with him, and he spends much of this book serving up their flimsiest arguments and then knocking them down. Of course, he also offers plenty of persuasive points, such as a review of research showing that multinationals that set up shop in poor nations pay more than their workers would receive from other employers. At his worst, Bhagwati makes the reptilian argument that mothers who leave behind their children for jobs in rich countries are simply making a logical choice, never mind the wrenching emotions that accompany such a move. At his best, he advocates for a safety net in poor nations and for a kinder, gentler form of globalization. getAbstract recommends this book to readers seeking an in-depth study of the pro-globalization mind-set.

Take-Aways

  • Critics paint globalization as “unfair trade” and “a race to the bottom” that hurts workers.
  • However, no objective evidence indicates that globalization kills jobs in rich nations.
  • Antiglobalization advocates spread inaccurate information about trade. For instance, reports of 15,000 child slaves on African cocoa plantations proved false.

About the Author

Jagdish Bhagwati is a professor at Columbia University and a senior fellow in international economics at the Council on Foreign Relations.

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