Gender Conservatism Predicts Protectionism

A new empirical finding links individual or regional gender‑conservative attitudes with higher support for trade protectionism; the relationship is reportedly robust over time (dating back to 2008) and not merely a product of recent partisan realignments. If true, this suggests cultural attitude clusters (about gender roles) systematically shape economic‑policy preferences beyond standard left/right tax or redistribution divides. — If gender‑attitude clusters predict trade preferences, debates about trade policy will increasingly be about cultural identity as much as economic winners and losers, reshaping coalition politics and messaging.