In this 21 st century, racism not only lingers in societies, but new, covert, and more sophisticated forms are evolving. Some would say that racism has prevailed for as long as there have been people on earth. The Bible touches on it in the Old Testament, and racist theories affirming one race's superiority over others have been floated at different periods of world history. These are also among the most shameful periods in the history of humanity.
Some historians believe that economics is one powerful motive for the perpetuation of racism.
Cheap labor provided by captives during the transatlantic slave trade provided a lucrative enterprise for Western slave owners, and profits reaped from exploited colonies greatly enhanced the development of Western industries. At least in part, this explains the uneven development among countries of the world. Today, economic globalization facilitates free trade and open markets, as national borders become more permeable to goods, capital and information. Poorer countries, to attract private investment and jobs, lower labor and environmental standards. The casualties of this trend, a disproportionate share of whom are women and people of color, face exploitation in wages and are deprived of decent working conditions.