Fear of automation and the rise of populism and protectionism

The American economy is being permanently affected by automation. In the coming years, an increasing number of individuals will lose their jobs as a result of automation and artificial intelligence. This will have widespread implications for the economy, but also potentially for politics and policy areas like immigration. Peter Loewen is a professor at the Department of Political Science and the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy at the University of Toronto, as well as a fellow at Stanford University's Center for Advanced Studies in the Behavioral Sciences. He joined the United States Studies Centre's CEO Professor Simon Jackman and director of its Innovation and Entrepreneurship program Claire McFarland to explore how fear about automation is related to support for populist candidates and parties, and for more protectionist public policy. They discussed original data from a recent survey of American adults.