Globalisation Flashcards
Define Globalisation
Refers to the way people and places across the world have become closely linked together. This has deepened global connections, interdependence and flows of capital, commodities, migrants and tourists.
State the four pinnacles of Globalisation
- Economic Globalisation
- Social Globalisation
- Political Globalisation
- Cultural globalisation
What is Economic Globalisation
o The growth of transnational corporations (TNCs) accelerates cross
border exchanges of raw materials, components, finished
manufactured goods, shares, portfolio investment and purchasing
o Information and communications technology (ICT) support the
growth of complex spatial divisions of labour for firms and more
international economy
o Online purchasing
What is Social Globalisation
o International immigration has created extensive family networks that
cross-national borders – world city-societies become multi-ethnic
and pluralistic
o Global improvements in education and health can be seen over
time, with rising world life expectancy and literacy levels
o Social interconnectivity had grown over time thanks to the spread of
universal connections such as mobile phones and the internet
What is Political Globalisation
o The growth of trading blocs allows TNCs to merge and make
acquisitions of firms neighbouring countries, while reduced trade
restrictions and tariffs help markets grow
o Global concerns such as free trade, credit crunch and the global
response to natural disasters
o The World Bank, the IMF and the WTO work internationally to
harmonise national economies
What is Cultural Globalisation
o Successful Western cultural traits come to dominate in some
territories e.g. Americanisation or McDonaldisation of tastes and
fashion
o Glocalisation and hybridisation are a more complex outcome and
takes place as old local cultures merge and weld with globalising
influences
o The circulation of ideas and information has accelerated thanks to
24-hour reporting; people also keep in touch using virtual spaces
such as Facebook
What 5 factors are accelerating Globalisation
- TNCs
- Transport and Communication
- Technology
- International Organisations
- Markets
How are TNCs accelerating globalisation
- TNCs have influenced global culture and improved local economies
providing job opportunities - TNCs try to appeal to local markets by the process of glocalisation
which means products are specially designed for the taste of the
consumer - Additionally, TNCs develop new markets and take advantage of
economic liberalisation by offshoring and outsourcing
How is Transport and Communication accelerating globalisation
• Improvements in mobile communications, internet, social media and
fibre optics have allowed people to connect together from all over
the world
• Transport development has produced cheap travel, reaching
everyone and causing time-space compression
• Migrants each year send home US$500 billions of remittances
which helps build economic connectivity
Explain an example of the impact of improving communication on Globalisation
More than a million Kilometres of undersea cables carry the worlds emails, searches and tweets.
Satellites broadcast the position and time data to users throughout the world.
Deliveries can be tracked by companies using vehicle-tracking systems, helping the growth of global production networks to be managed
Explain an example of the impact of cheap travel on Globalisation
Around 200 million individual container movements take place each year – some commentators describe shipping as the ‘backbone’ of the global economy since the 1950s.
E.g. the Chinese vessel, Cosco, is 336 metres long and can carry 13,000 containers
Explain an example of the impact of remittances on Globalisation
Poland has become particularly reliant on remittances since its joining of the EU in 2004.
Remittances has directly increased the disposable income of recipients, who can then decide whether to spend them or to save them.
Depending on what goods or services are purchased, this can lead to increases in recorded consumption or investment, and thus, though multiplier effects, to increases in overall GDP.
How do international organisations encourage globalisation
International political and economic organisations, such as the WTO and IMF, have contributed to globalisation by promoting free trade policies and foreign direct investment
For many decades three central international organisations have acted as ‘brokers’ of globalisation through the promotion of free trade policies and FDI
International monetary fund (IMF)
- Based in Washington, DC, the IMF channels loans from rich nations
to countries that apply for help. In return, the recipients must agree
to run free market economies that are open to outside investment - As a result, TNCs can enter these countries more easily
Evaluation…
- IMF rules can be controversial, especially the strict financial
conditions imposed on borrowing governments, who may be
required to cut back on health care, education, sanitation and
housing programmes
The World Bank
- The world bank lends money on a global scale and is headquartered
in Washington, DC. - In 2014, a US$470 million loan was granted to the Philippines for
poverty-reduction programme - The world bank also gives direct grants to the developing countries – e.g. grant to Democratic Republic of the Congo for a mega dam to
kick start its economy
Evaluation…
- In total, the World Bank distributed US$65 billion in loans and grants
in 2014 - However, like the IMF, the World Bank imposes strict conditions on
its loans and grants - Controversially, the World Bank presidents have all been American
citizens
World Trade Organisation
- The WTO took over from the General Agreement on Trade and
Tariffs in 1995 - Based in Switzerland, the WTO advocates trade liberalisation,
especially for manufactured goods - Asks countries to abandon protectionist attitudes in favour of
untaxed trade - China was persuaded to lift export restrictions on ‘rare earth’
minerals in 2014
Evaluation…
- The WTO has failed to stop the world’s richest countries, such as the
USA and the UK from subsidising their own food producers - This protectionism is harmful to farmers in developing countries who
want to trade on a level playing field - The WTOs continuing lack of success in getting its 159-member
countries to reach a global agreement on any aspect of trade,
especially in relation to food, raises questions about its long-term
role
Define Foreign Direct Investment
A financial injection made by a TNC into a nation’s economy, either by building new facilities, or to acquire, or merge with, an existing firm already based there
What are the four key typed of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)
Offshoring
Foreign Mergers
Foreign Acquisitions
Transfer Pricing
What is Offshoring
Some TNCs build their own new production facilities in ‘offshore’ low-wage economies
What is Foreign Mergers
Two firms in different countries join forces to create a single entity
What are Foreign Acquisitions
When a TNC launches a takeover of a company in another country
Transfer Pricing
Some TNCs such as amazon channel profits through a subsidiary company in a low tax country. (Ireland, Luxemburg)
How do National Governments influence the acceleration of globalisation
National governments promote free trade blocs by removing trade barriers and forming international groupings
Additionally, policies such as free-market liberalisation, privatisation and encouragement of business start-ups help improve economic wealth whilst accelerating globalisation and forming global networks.
This has also led to huge stock growth
What is the policy of Free-Market Liberalisation
- This model is associated with the policies of the US President,
Ronald Reagan, and Margaret Thatcher’s UK government during the
1980s - Followed two simple beliefs:
Government intervention in markets impedes economic
development
As wealth increases, trickle-down will take place from the richest
members of society to the poorest
- In practice, this meant restrictions being lifted in the way companies
and banks operated