Ideology, Inequality and Inequitable Trade Policies

Does more wealth inequality lead to more inequitable trade policies? To answer this question, this study develops a political economy model of international trade theory and predicts that in a pro-worker regime, an increase in wealth inequality leads to more equitable trade policies. In a pro-capitalist regime, an increase in wealth inequality leads to more inequitable trade policies. Using cross-country data on political ideology, wealth inequality and different measures of trade policies, this paper finds empirical support for these predictions.