Contributor(s): Professor Antigone Lyberaki |

How far does economic decline and the rise of inequalities explain the rise of populism? Here, we examine the support for Donald Trump at the local level across the US to assess the importance of these factors: in particular, inter-regional and inter-personal inequalities. We consider how far similar factors explain political changes across other countries also. And, we discuss whether such political effects are here to stay or what might be done to mitigate them.

Andrés Rodríguez-Pose (@rodriguez_pose) is Professor of Economic Geography at LSE. He has a long track record of research in regional growth and disparities, fiscal and political decentralisation, regional innovation, and development policies and strategies. His research is widely cited in academic circles and has also been frequently used by policy and decision-makers.

Dimitris Kairidis (@DimKairidis) is a member of the Greek Parliament, representing Athens-North for the center-right party of New Democracy. He is a Professor of International Politics at Panteion University of Athens and the Founding Director of the Navarino Network in Thessaloniki. He has taught at many universities in Greece and abroad and is a regular TV political commentator. He has published extensively on international politics, including books on nationalism and ethnic conflict, US foreign policy and Greek-Turkish relations.

Antigone Lyberaki (@ALyberaki), is an economist, Professor of Economics at Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences (in Athens). She was educated at Athens University (Economics) and at the Institute of Development Studies at Sussex University. She has also taught at the City University of New York (Queen’s College) and the Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales in Paris, France. Ηer research interests have focused on the interplay between social structures and economic performance. She has published extensively and has participated in civil society initiatives related to women’s rights, migration and development.

Vassilis Monastiriotis is an economist and economic geographer by training, specialising in the areas of Labour Economics, Economic Geography and Political Economy. He is an Associate Professor in Political Economy, a Member of the Hellenic Observatory, LSE and Director of LSEE: Research on South Eastern Europe.

The Hellenic Observatory (@HO_LSE) is internationally recognised as one of the premier research centres on contemporary Greece and Cyprus. It engages in a range of activities, including developing and supporting academic and policy-related research; organisation of conferences, seminars and workshops; academic exchange through visiting fellowships and internships; as well as teaching at the graduate level through LSE's European Institute.

Backed by its 179-year participation in the country's economic and social life, NBG is one of the leading Greek financial organisations, with strong tradition and noteworthy contribution to the economic and social transformation of Greece. The Bank’s broad customer base, respected brand name, strong market share in deposits and enhanced capital adequacy ratios secure it with the liquidity needed to finance Greek businesses and reflect the long-standing relationship of trust it enjoys with its clientele.

Twitter Hashtag for this event: #LSETrump