They may help to maintain a level playing field and to prevent a regulatory race to the bottom in policy fields that serve the whole of society. Therefore, I do not entirely follow Rodrik’s reasoning. Still, what I see as his most important message is that we should not artificially separate international economics from national or regional politics. 4.
3 While these survey data certainly suggest that some tightening has occurred, it is important to observe that they also suggest that, at least for now, the effects have generally been quite limited.