In an interview with Channel NewsAsia, SMU School of Social Sciences Associate Professor of Political Science John Donaldson shared his views on the world economic situation and the rise of populism in the West. On the main causes of the populist wave (both in Europe and the US), he noted that people are feeling disenchanted with the economic system and they feel that the political system is not responsive to that. “It usually starts to occur on the economic side not when people are poor but when people feel like they are doing worse. So a lot of people who have been working hard find themselves completely wiped out through no fault of their own,” he said. Associate Prof Donaldson also spoke about the impact the populist wave has had on the economies of these countries and the lives of the people.