Globalization Defies Populist Backlash, Says Bloomberg Economist

Bloomberg News Senior Economics Writer Shawn Donnan tells Bloomberg This Weekend that globalization has continued to expand despite a decade of populist policies, tariffs and efforts to reshape international trade following Brexit and President Donald Trump's first election victory. Speaking with hosts David Gura and Christina Ruffini, Donnan argues that growing cross-border investment, global supply chains and digital technology demonstrate that the world economy remains increasingly interconnected. Donnan's analysis challenges the narrative that populist movements have reversed globalization. Instead, he points to data showing that trade and investment flows have adapted and even grown, with digital services and multinational supply chains driving deeper integration. Even as political rhetoric turns inward, the economic reality tells a different story. The segment explores how businesses and investors continue to seek opportunities across borders, often circumventing policy barriers. Donnan's insights suggest that globalization is not retreating but evolving, and that policymakers underestimating its resilience may miss the bigger picture.