Regionalisation, Globalisation, and Social Cohesion

This chapter reviews the author’s involvement in international debates on the external dimension of the regional market integration in Europe and the advantages of regionalism relative to globalism amid increased concern, which developed in the 1990s, that the growing diversity of interests, points of view and technical capabilities among an increased number of countries participating in global negotiations tended to reduce the efficacy and usefulness of global efforts. A supplementary note on the view the author as OECD Chief Economist expressed on the implications of new technology for economic and social policy matters such as employment and equality is provided at the end of this chapter, as it is important to distinguish them from those of globalisation.