Exploring the Role of Innovation Inequality in America’s Political Divide
TL/DR –
The book “U.S. Innovation Inequality and Trumpism: The Political Economy of Technology Deserts in a Knowledge Economy” argues that the American political divide comes not from disagreements on social issues, but from ‘innovation inequality’ exploited by former President Donald Trump and other populists. The authors argue that the U.S. is split between regions that are highly technologically advanced and those that are not, and Trump was successful at tapping into this divide. The book also looks at trends in the 2016 and 2020 elections, noting that Trump appealed to regions that felt left behind by technological advancements, while in 2020, areas that flipped from Trump to Biden were those that had become more technologically advanced in the intervening years.
October 15, 2024
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In book “U.S. Innovation Inequality and Trumpism”, authors analyze how tech division impacts politics.Douglas Rissing
A new book, “U.S. Innovation Inequality and Trumpism: The Political Economy of Technology Deserts in a Knowledge Economy”, explores the ‘innovation inequality’ concept, which researchers claim is exploited by populists like former President Donald Trump. According to the authors, the success of such figures is due to the economic divide between regions that are more and less technologically advanced.
UW News caught up with one of the authors, Victor Menaldo, to discuss this idea, the upcoming election, and Trump’s campaigns.
What led you to explore this topic?
Victor Menaldo:The three main drivers were dissatisfaction with conventional explanations for Trump’s electoral outcomes, a desire to examine populism as a broader phenomenon rather than just focusing on one figure, and a need for historical context when discussing populism.
Can you elaborate on the ‘innovation inequality’ concept?
VM: The divide between less innovative and more innovative places, like Silicon Valley, has always existed. However, the gap in their contributions to the country’s economic dynamism is bigger today. In the book, we discuss how populists exploit this divide, and the political implications of ‘innovation inequality’
How did this concept influence Trump’s 2016 win and 2020 loss?
VM: In 2016, Trump was antagonistic towards big tech and highly educated, skilled labor forces. He also appealed to those not part of the knowledge economy. In 2020, places that flipped from Trump to Biden were more technologically advanced.
What are your observations about the current election cycle?
VM: Both parties have learned lessons. Republicans try to appeal to some tech firms and sectors, while Democrats aim to balance being pro-innovation and talking about reviving manufacturing jobs in the Rust Belt.
Contact Menaldo at vmenaldo@uw.edu
Tag(s): College of Arts & Sciences • Department of Political Science • Victor Menaldo
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