The global political retreat from liberal democracy and the rise of authoritarianism is well documented, but the economic causes and consequences of this “backsliding” have received much less attention. This conference will concentrate on the economics of the recent wave of anti-democratic regimes. Analyzing the economic causes and especially the economic consequences of the authoritarian turn will help us understand the sustainability of this illiberal shift. This in turn will allow a serious exploration of alternative economic policy frameworks to strengthen democracies by helping them deliver a more prosperous and equitable economy.

Event sponsors: Open Society Foundations, Hewlett Foundation, Heilbroner Center for Capitalism Studies.

This is a hybrid event with in-person and Zoom-based modes of attendance. All attendees must register in advance and guests who choose to attend remotely will receive the Zoom link within 24 hours of the event. 

PROGRAM

9:00 Welcome: Will Milberg (The New School), Laura Carvalho (Open Society Foundations), Brian Kettenring (Hewlett Foundation)

9:30 - 11:00 After Neoliberalism: A Roundtable Discussion, with Dani Rodrik (Harvard University), Jessica Pisano (The New School), Darrick Hamilton (The New School), Joseph Stiglitz (Columbia University). Moderator: Will Milberg (The New School)

11:00 - 11:30 Coffee break

11:30 - 1:00 Economic and Non-Economic Drivers of Authoritarianism

Moderator: Will Milberg (The New School)

Rosana Pinheiro-Machado (University College Dublin) “Far Right Support Amongst Low Income Groups in Brazil: The Role of Economic Precarity and Aspirations.”

Thiemo Fetzer (University of Warwick) “Austerity – On Why, What and How -- Lessons from the UK’s Failed Experiment”

David Autor (MIT) “The Enduring Economic and Political Consequences of the China Trade Shock”

1:00 - 2:00: Lunch break

2:00 - 3:30 Economic Policies and Performance of Illiberal Democracies

Moderator: Mark Setterfield (The New School)

Moritz Schularick (University of Bonn) “Populism and the Macroeconomy”

Daniela Gabor (University of Western England - Bristol) “'Iliberalisms on Europe's Borderlands: A Critical Macrofinance Tale”

Ayca Zayim (Mt. Holyoke College) "The Politics and Limits of Monetary Policy Under Growing Authoritarianism: The Case of Turkey.”

3:30 - 4:00 Coffee break

4:00 - 5:00 Labor and Social Protection under Illiberalism

Moderator and discussant: Teresa Ghilarducci (The New School)

Janine Berg (International Labor Organization) “Workplace Governance, Labour Rights and Social Protection in Brazil, Hungary, Poland and Turkey: A Comparative Analysis”

Sheba Tejani (King’s College London) “Corporate Majoritarianism: The Case of India"