Our Story

Our mission is to foster a deep understanding of the complex interplay between globalization, social investment, and inequality. Through our research initiatives and partnerships, we aim to drive meaningful conversations, propose actionable solutions, and contribute to the advancement of a more just, inclusive, and sustainable world.

Since the 1980s, the global economy has expanded more than threefold. Despite these encouraging developments, there is a prevailing pessimism due to the recognition that these benefits have not been shared equitably. Both the general public and academic communities concur that inequality has worsened over the past few decades.

Leaders around the world blame globalization. As a result, they have implemented policies that close off their economies to the outside world. In the United States, the world’s largest economy, politicians from both parties have raised tariffs and eschewed international trade agreements – effectively reversing decades of effort to promote interdependence. 

However, restricting America from participating in global competition will ultimately curtail future economic opportunities. The obstacle to achieving the “American Dream” is not globalization itself, but rather the unequal distribution of its benefits. The task ahead is to devise effective strategies for fostering a robust economy that harnesses the advantages of globalization, while ensuring that more workers and families can reap the rewards of evolving economic opportunities. This challenge extends beyond the American government and encompasses governments worldwide.

In response to this tension in the discourse and the critical gap in existing scholarship, Georgetown University launched the Lab for Globalization and Shared Prosperity in 2023. Drawing on multidisciplinary scholarly expertise and its location in Washington D.C., the Lab seeks to translate cutting-edge political economy research into non-partisan policy solutions.

Through research and statistical analysis, the Lab will unravel the complexities of globalization at the local level, recognizing both its opportunities and challenges. Our findings aim to foster dialogue on policy reform and empower individuals and communities with information about the true costs and benefits of globalizaiton. 

The Lab’s first major initiative is to create an American Dream Index that ranks cities and counties based on their ability to leverage globalization to improve the lives of the median voter. This index focuses on four core components of the American Dream: access to housing, healthcare, income mobility, and jobs for both those with and without a college education. Through this process, we will be able to identify the local policies, politics, and practices that ensure the benefits of globalization are equitably distributed at the local level, so no one is left behind. 

Ultimately, we hope to expand the American Dream Index into a Global Index for Shared Prosperity. This tool is positioned to usher in a new economic paradigm focused on aligning open markets with widespread benefits for the majority. 

In tandem with producing the American Dream Index, the Lab also produces focused research on the relationship between globalization and labor, social investment, gender, race, and climate. Read more about all our work in the “Our Research” tab.