4.1 Flashcards
(43 cards)
Globalisation definition
Globalisation is the increasing integration of the world’s local, regional and national economies into a single international market.
Factors contributing to globalisation:
- Improvement in transport infrastructure – quick, reliable and cheap methods to separate production
- Improved IT and communication = allows companies to operate everywhere
- Trade liberalisation = decreased protectionism through trading blocs
- International financial markets = ability to raise money and move around the world
- Transnational companies= growth of them = globalisation as they want to increase profits= move around to find low labour costs and they have power to lobby governments
Impacts of globalisation on consumers
- Increased choice as wide rade of worldwide goods
- Decreased prices as comparative advantage from countries with low cost
- Decreased culture sovereignty
Impacts of globalisation on producers
- Decreased risk for firms as collapse of market in one country = can switch to another
- Employ low skilled labour at low cost= exploit comparative advantage= increased profits
- Firms who are unable to compete in international markets lose out
Impacts of globalisation on workers
- Large scale job losses/ structural unemployment in western world manufacturing as they move to china
- Increased migration can lead to lower wages. However migrants can provide skills and increased AD = job creation
- Increased wages for high skilled labour whilst low skilled= decreased inequality
- TNCs provide training and new jobs however some create sweat shops = poor conditions and wages= increased employment and decreased SOL
Impacts on government
- Increased gov revenue due to TNCs paying tax and people employed
EVAL: tax avoidance and TNC’s can lobby bribe gov= corruption
Impact on environment
- Increased demand for raw materials = once they run out, countries dependant lose out
- Increased trade and production= more emissions and pollution
Impact on individual countries:
- Trade imbalances
- Income and wealth inequality
- Spread of culture
Absolute advantage definition
when a country can produce a good more cheaply in absolute terms than another country
Comparative advantage definition
when a country is able to produce a good more cheaply relative to other goods producing meaning it has a lower opportunity cost
Limitations and assumptions of the theory of comparative advantage
- Assumes no transport costs= prevents /lowers adv
- Assumes costs are constant and theres no EOS
- Assumes goods are homogenous when in reality goods are very diversified = cannot perfectly compare goods
- Assumes factors or production are perfectly mobile ie not tariffs and other barriers and there is perfect knowledge when markets are not perfectly competitive
Adv of specialisation and trade in an international context
- Increased world output if countries produce what they’re good at= economic growth
- EOS = decreased cost = decreased prices globally
- Increased choice of goods= increased consumer welfare
- Increased comp= incentive to lower cost and decrease prices and innovate = increased consumer welfare and increased quality
Dis of specialisation and trade in an international context
- Over dependency = some countries rely on different export and imports= can reduce standards of living if prices increase
- Structural unemployment, as decreased jobs due to firms moving abroad for comp adv = decreases SOL and incomes
- Environmental damages due to transport costs and increased demand for resources, eg deforestation
- Loss of sovereignty due to trading blocs
- Loss of culture due to foreign ideas and products
Factors influencing patterns of trade
- Comparative advantage change eg growth in exports of manufactured goods from developing countries to developed due to developing countries low labour costs = production shifts abroad
> De-industrialisation of countries like UK = manufacture secor declines = shift abroad eg China whilst UK focus on services eg finance = industrialisation of China and india = increased exports - Impact of emerging economies= collapse of communism= more countries participate in world trade
^ and shifts in pattern of trade due to emerging economies taking up a higher proportion of exports as they grow due to export-led growth and they also import more due to increased incomes and demand - Trade blocs = increased level of trade between countries and reduces trade for others
- Changes in relative exchange rates = affect prices of goods. Increased exchange rates of one country = decreased exports and shift trade to another
What is terms of trade?
- Measures the volume of imports an economy can receive per unit of exports
Avg export price index/ Avg import price index x100
Increased terms of trade = favourable as more imports bought for same level of exports= improvement
Decreased terms of trade= unfavorable = when export price falls or import price increases = detoriation
Factors influencing term of trade
SR
- Exchange rates, inflation and supply/ demand of imports and exports effect it since price changes
LR
- Improved productivity compared to countries main trading partner = decreased terms of trade as export prices fall relative to import – caused by new or efficient tech
- Changes in income - terms of trade increases if incomes rise = countries with strong tourism industry eg spain would see an improvement as prices of exports rise
- Protectionism measures= improves terms of trade because imports are restricted unless other countries dont retaliate
Prebish singer suggests LR price of primary goods declines in proportion to manufactured goods = those dependant on primary exports = decreased terms of trade
Primary goods eg mining/agriculture
Impacts of changes in a country’s terms of trade
- Improvement in terms of trade = decreased GDP and increased unemployment as international competitiveness of goods reduces = decreased exports and increased imports due to low price= decreased production in country = decreased jobs and output
- Worsening terms of trade= for every import, country has to export more = increased prices for new tech = expensive= decreased productivity = decreased SOL as goods more expensive. Additionally, it becomes more difficult to earn foreign currency = harder to pay foreign debt
Marshal lerner- If PED of exports and imports is inelastic then its a favourable movement in terms of trade = improvement in current account on the balance of payments, whilst if elastic = favourable movement in TOT = worsen
What is a trading bloc
Trading bloc- group of countries that reduce or remove trade barriers between them leading to trade liberisation eg EU, NAFTA
Define regional,bilateral, PTA, customs union, common market, monetary union
Regional trading bloc= group of countries within a geographical region that protect themselves from imports of non-members
Bilateral agreement = between one single country and another country
Preferential trading area (PTA) - tariffs and other trade barriers reduced on some goods but not all
Free trade area (FTA) - all trade barriers are removed between member countries. However member countries can set their own trade barriers on non-member countires
Customs union- all trade barriers are removed between member countries. Also all member counntires must have a common external tariff on imports from non-member countries
Common market- all trade barriers are removed between member countries. Also all member countries must have a common external tariff on imports from non-member countries. Also there is free movement of factors of production
Monetary union- 2 ore more countries with a single currency, with a exchange rate controlled and monitored by one central bank eg EU
Eurozone
- European central bank - distributes notes and coins, sets IR, maintains stable financial situation and manages foreign currency reserves
- Govs agree not to exceed fical deficit of more than 3% and no national debt over 60%
Advantages of trade agreements/ trading blocs
- Free trade encourages specialisation= increased output due to comparative advantage= allows for EOS = decreased prices and costs
- Increased growth due to larger markets = EOS
- Firms inside protected from cheaper imports
> EVAL- some imports may be cheaper even with a tariff placed - Increased competition due to trade liberalisation = increased innovation = decreased prices = increased productive and allocative efficiency
- Increased jobs
- Increased choice= increased consumer welfare
Disadvantages of trading bloc
- Decreased sovrity of counties
- Cant benefit countries outside bloc= leads to distort world trade= decreased benefits of specialisation as inefficient producer protected from efficient producers= trade diversion
> decreased comp as inefficient firms driven out and change structure to oligopolistic
Loss of resources= high regional inequalities as successful countries attract skilled labour/ capital - Trade disputes
– Diistributed gains from trade= unequal as developed = most
Reasons for restrictions on trade
- Protect infant industries- chance to build reputation and customer base and cover sunk costs as their AC will be high= unable to compete with international firms
- Job protection- allowing imports =domestic producers lose to international firms= job losses= decreased innovation as missing out on knowledge
- Protect from dumping (surplus goods to other markets at low prices)= harm domestic firms as cant compete
- Protect from unfair competition- unable to compete with low labour costs or low health and safety costs= gov has to intervene
- Terms of trade= country buys large amount of imports of a goods= increases demand= increased prices= worsen terms of trade as less imports can be bought with same amount of exports. Restriction= decreased supply = decreased price = improve trade
- Danger of over specialisation - reduces reliance on other countires
- Protect from demerit goods= corrects market failure
Restrictions on free trade
- Tariffs- taxes placed on imports. Qty demanded for domestic good should rise and decrease for imported goods. Tariff = increased price and decreased consumer surplus
- Quotas- limit placed on the level of imports allowed in a country= increased prices for domestic consumers = forces them to buy domestic goods
- Domestic subsidies to consumers= decreased prices for goods
>EVAL- depends where its spent, how and for what, magnitude