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From Textile Town to Ghost Town to Car Town: West Point, Georgia

Explore how globalization impacted the tiny town of West Point, Georgia.

Featuring

Scott Lincicome circle portrait
Scott Lincicome

Vice President, General Economics and Stiefel Trade Policy Center, Cato Institute

Tiny West Point, Georgia, was once an American “textile town” crippled by globalization. But today, the very same economic forces that challenged West Point decades ago are fueling its rebirth—and supporting the lives of thousands of American workers in the process. The region’s evolution shows that the global economy’s story doesn’t end after a disruptive event; it’s constantly changing—and usually for the better.

Share the following questions with students to evaluate the impact of globalization on West Point:

  1. How do multinational corporations (MNCs) impact the growth trajectory of small towns like West Point? 

  1. Do you think an increase in MNC presence increases the social mobility of where they are? Why or why not?