Announcements

White Paper: Is trade really toxic? How trade supports American jobs

The findings from our white paper, commissioned by the Hinrich Foundation, challenge the notion that globalization is bad for American workers. Our analysis shows that, contrary to popular narratives, engaging in global trade has had a positive impact on U.S. manufacturing employment post-2011. In addition to bolstering manufacturing jobs, globalization spurs opportunities for economic growth, efficiency, and innovation. These findings suggest that U.S. policymakers should focus on developing our comparative advantage in tradable services rather than prioritizing efforts to revive lost manufacturing jobs. See the full report here.

As a philanthropic foundation focused on global trade, we acutely recognize the need for a clearer understanding of how the American economy and American jobs responded to the China Shock and the effects of globalization. We saw immediately how the painstaking and ambitious work of the Georgetown Lab for Globalization and Shared Prosperity used fact and careful research to debunk the false narrative that trade has become toxic for American workers. The Lab’s landmark work, and the paper we commissioned from it, speak truth to power and remain a compelling and invaluable guide for policy-making. We hope it helps to advance the inherent trust that trade brings and expresses in a time of unprecedented global challenges.

— CHUIN WEI YAP
PROGRAM DIRECTOR, TRADE RESEARCH
HINRICH FOUNDATION