VIES: Alberto Martin „Hegemonic Globalization“
The FIW Research Centre International Economics and its partners kindly invite you to participate in the upcoming Vienna International Economics Seminar (VIES) on the topic:
„Hegemonic Globalization“ (joint with F. Broner, J. Meyer, and C. Trebesch)
Abstract:
How does the global balance of power shape the world economy? We propose a theory of “hegemonic globalization” built on two premises: countries have heterogeneous policy preferences, and trade expands with policy alignment. Hegemons foster alignment, enabling globalization, while a shift to multipolarity risks fragmentation, at the expense of the declining hegemon and its allies. Empirically, we use international treaties as a proxy of alignment and construct the Global Treaty Database, covering 77,000 agreements from 1800–2020. The evidence supports the key elements of our theory: hegemons spur treaty-making, and treaties are a leading indicator of bilateral trade.
Speaker:
Alberto Martin earned his PhD in Economics from Columbia University in 2005. He is currently a Senior Researcher at the Center for Research in International Economics (CREI), an Adjunct Professor at Universitat Pompeu Fabra, a Research Professor at the Barcelona School of Economics (BSE), and the Deputy Director for Research at the BSE. He is also a Research Fellow at the Center for Economic Policy Research, where he is director of the International Finance and Macroeconomics Programme. He has been an Associate Editor at the Journal of International Economics, a member of the Board of Editors of the Review of Economic Studies and a Member of the Panel at Economic Policy. In the past, he has held positions at the European Central Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the Argentine Ministry of Economics. He has been awarded the Fulbright Fellowship, the Lamfalussy Fellowship from the European Central Bank, Consolidator and Advanced Research Grants from the European Research Council, and the Taula de Canvi prize from the Catalan Economic Society. Alberto’s research interests include macroeconomics, finance and international economics. His work has appeared in The American Economic Review, The Review of Economic Studies, and The Journal of Finance, among others.
When: Tuesday, March 10, 17.45-19.15 p.m.
Where: lecture hall 15, 2nd floor
Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1, 1090 Wien
The main entrance at Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 is the easiest way to get to lecture hall 15, 2nd floor.
Registration:
Participants are requested to register in advance with Julia Hnidek (julia.hnidek@univie.ac.at).
The Vienna International Economics Seminar (VIES) is a joint initiative of CEU, FIW Research Centre International Economics, Universität Wien, WIFO, wiiw, and WU Vienna. The VIES seminar is dedicated to frontier research in international economics and features presentations by renowned international scholars.
The seminar is held at irregular intervals on Tuesdays from 17:45 to 19:15, alternating each semester between participating institutions. From October 2025 to January 2026, the seminar will be hosted by the University of Vienna.
Organizers:
Gábor Békés (CEU), Alejandro Cuñat (Vienna U.), Harald Fadinger (Vienna U.), Gabriel Felbermayr (WIFO, WU), Miklós Koren (CEU), Harald Oberhofer (WIFO, WU), Robert Stehrer (wiiw).
The seminar is currently coordinated by Harald Fadinger.
For more information and the detailed seminar schedule, please visit: https://sites.google.com/view/viennainternationaleconomicsse/
