B. Peter Rosendorff (New York) and James Bisbee (New York)
Abstract
Individual expressions of anti-globalization sentiment require both a predisposition and activation in order to be expressed. Exposure to trade shocks activate such attitudes in those that perceive insecurity as to their future job prospects. We offer a novel definition of job insecurity, based on the distance both in task and geographical space between occupations, and hence the predisposition to anti-outsider attitudes. Exposure to industry-specific globalization-sourced shocks activate those sentiments, and isolationist and nationalist attitudes emerge. We find strong evidence that US survey respondents in occupations that experience high degrees of risk or vulnerability are more likely to express anti-globalization sentiment, and these sentiments are magnified when those individuals are also exposed to a trade shock at the level of the industry of employment.