With all eyes recently focused on the presidential election in France (where Emmanuel Macron, a political outsider, defeated nationalist Marine Le Pen), the snap election in the United Kingdom (resulting in a hung parliament and a politically-weakened Prime Minister Theresa May entering Brexit negotiations) and on upcoming elections throughout Europe, it is easy to lose sight of the causes of the unrest that seems to be percolating throughout society just about everywhere in the Western world — witness the election of Donald Trump as president of the United States.

Surely immigration from Asia, the Middle East and Africa is at the forefront, placing strains on government resources and social safety nets, and (at least potentially, in the long run) increasing competition for jobs? Maybe not.

Competitive pressure for jobs