The Lure of Economic Nationalism

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.

Kenneth Reinert’s insightful analysis reveals the resurgence of economic nationalism in a post-World War II world that once favored multilateralism. This return, reinforced by the COVID-19 pandemic, risks economic welfare, global health, and international relations, exacerbating ethnic tensions as seen in the current Ukraine crisis.— Nature

“The state has an important role in economic development as demonstrated by successfully devel-oped countries such as South Korea, Taiwan and Singapore. However, when the state pursues eco-nomic nationalism outside this developmental context, economic welfare can be set back. Kenneth A. Reinert’s The Lure of Economic Nationalism vividly illustrates this danger.” — Yong-Shik Lee, Di-rector and Professorial Fellow, The Law and Development Institute

A beeline from Hirschman’s forgotten book to today’s perilous plight of multilateralism. Kenneth Reinert’s rigorous analysis is matched only by his erudition. And it is a page turner too.” — Petros C. Mavroidis, Columbia Law School

Kenneth A. Reinert is Professor of Public Policy at the Schar School of Policy and Government of George Mason University. He is the author of An Introduction to International Economics: New Perspectives on the World Economy (2012, 2020) and No Small Hope: Towards the Universal Provision of Basic Goods (2018).

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.

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.