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Displaced Worker Angst and Far Right Populism

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  • Lambert, Thomas

Abstract

This paper looks at how downward socio-economic mobility of displaced workers is fueling the rise of right-wing populism. After a review of relevant literature on worker displacement and angst follows an analysis of its implications for US politics. Data from government sources suggest that displacement has contributed to the deeply conservative populism. Finally, survey data demonstrate those who are more subject to bouts of unemployment are more likely to believe that immigrants take jobs away from US citizens and that “free” trade agreements are not good for the US.

Suggested Citation

  • Lambert, Thomas, 2024. "Displaced Worker Angst and Far Right Populism," MPRA Paper 120483, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:120483
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    File URL: https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/120483/1/MPRA_paper_120483.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Daniel Fackler & Steffen Mueller & Jens Stegmaier, 2021. "Explaining Wage Losses After Job Displacement: Employer Size and Lost Firm Wage Premiums," Journal of the European Economic Association, European Economic Association, vol. 19(5), pages 2695-2736.
    2. Larry M. Bartels, 2016. "The New Gilded Age," Introductory Chapters, in: Unequal Democracy:The Political Economy of the New Gilded Age, Princeton University Press.
    3. Bruce C. Fallick, 1996. "A Review of the Recent Empirical Literature on Displaced Workers," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 50(1), pages 5-16, October.
    4. Larry M. Bartels, 2016. "Unequal Democracy:The Political Economy of the New Gilded Age," Economics Books, Princeton University Press, edition 2, number 10831, December.
    5. Henry S. Farber, 2017. "Employment, Hours, and Earnings Consequences of Job Loss: US Evidence from the Displaced Workers Survey," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 35(S1), pages 235-272.
    6. Thomas Ferguson & Benjamin I. Page & Jacob Rothschild & Arturo Chang & Jie Chen, 2020. "The Roots of Right-Wing Populism: Donald Trump in 2016," International Journal of Political Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 49(2), pages 102-123, April.
    7. Marta Lachowska & Alexandre Mas & Stephen A. Woodbury, 2020. "Sources of Displaced Workers' Long-Term Earnings Losses," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 110(10), pages 3231-3266, October.
    8. Henry S. Farber, 2004. "Job Loss In The United States, 1981–2001," Research in Labor Economics, in: Accounting for Worker Well-Being, pages 69-117, Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
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    JEL classification:

    • B50 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - Current Heterodox Approaches - - - General
    • B52 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - Current Heterodox Approaches - - - Historical; Institutional; Evolutionary; Modern Monetary Theory;

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