Globalisation Flashcards
(76 cards)
What is globalisation?
shapes/patterns of trade, development, culture, technology, urbanisation and power
- the process by which the world becomes increasingly interconnected (with deepening global connections, interdependence and flows) as a result of increased trade and cultural exchange. it is the integration of economies, industries, markets, cultures and policy-making around the world
What are the factors accelerating globalisation?
- development of transport (lower cost)
- advances in technology
- increased communication
- international organisations
- transactional corporations
- new markets
What is the timeline and facts for things that accelerate globalisation?
- 1787 steam-ships
- 1804 railways (1804 first steam train)
- 1830s telegraph (developed in 1830s)
- jet air craft - up to 600mph
- containerisation in 1956 by Malcolm Mclean - responsible for 60% of world seaborne trade, carries 25,000kg per container
- 1973 mobile phones
- 1990 www launched (internet means companies can become footloose)
- 1970s fibre optics - supplies to 2/3 of the UK, carry 65,000x more than copper wires
- 1980s electronic banking
- concept of a “digital economy” arose in 1995 has fundamentally changed how people interact
- social networking e.g. facebook has 1 billion members
What are the international organisations promoting globalisation?
- the Bretton Woods Agreement
- the International Monetary Fund (IMF)
- the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)
- the World Trade Organisation (WTO)
How did the Bretton Woods Agreement promote globalisation?
- set up to rebuild economies post-WW2
- provided initiatives to regulate the international monetary system for USA, Canada, Western Europe, NZ, Australia and japan - all of which linked their currencies to the US dollar
- also established the IMF and IBRD
How did the International Monetary Fund (IMF) promote globalisation?
- helps governments balance their payments
- e.g. by granting loans to members that cannot pay their debts
- main purpose is to prevent protectionism and ensure stability of the international monetary system (system of exchange rates and international payments that makes international transactions possible)
How did the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) promote globalisation?
- originally aimed to help rebuild economies post-WW2 and to alleviate poverty
- now part of the World Bank Group, focus changed to tackling extreme poverty and to encourage income growth for bottom 40% of each country e.g. by providing loans
How did the World Trade Organisation (WTO) promote globalisation?
- set up by the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)
- aim to reduce tariffs and other barriers to trade
- in turn, this will promote FDI, privatisation and market liberalisation
In what ways can national governments promote trade/globalisation?
- privatisation
- trade blocs
- transport
- policy of special economic zones
What is FDI and whats the difference between inorganic and organic FDI?
FDI - a controlling ownership in a business or enterprise in one country by a company in another country
- inorganic FDI is when a foreign firm buys a company in a different country (e.g. UK received £12 billion in FDI from the USA when Kraft bought Cadbury in 2010)
- organic FDI is when the operations of an existing business are expanded into another country (e.g. Nissan’s 2015 investment of £100 million into an existing car plant in Sunderland to produced the next generation of its Juke car - guaranteed 27,000 jobs in the supply chain)
What is privatisation?
the transfer in ownership of a business/service etc from the public sector to the private sector
What is market liberalisation?
the restriction of rules seen to restrain economic activity
How did the UK undergo privatisation?
conservative gov under Thatcher began a programme of deregulation and privatisation, British Telecom privatised in 1984, local bus services under the Transport Act 1985, British Rail 1993
- policies continued under new labour 1997 when the BofE was taken from gov control, meaning it could no longer control financial activities of banks in the UK
Why was privatisation introduced in the UK?
to encourage economic growth and FDI through ideologies that competition leads the market
What is a Trading Bloc?
an intergovernmental agreement where by barriers to trade are reduced among participating states (e.g. the EU)
What are the advantages of trade bloc membership? (3)
- creation of bigger markets without extra tax e.g. Teco’s expansion into EU - 65-508 million consumer base
- bigger markets encourage national firms to merge into TNCs e.g. Vodafone became the largest telecommunications company after merging with Germany’s Mannesmann
- protection from foreign competitors e.g. 2007 EU blocked £50 million of Chinese clothes
What are the disadvantages of trade bloc membership? (3)
- loss of sovereignty e.g. EU dictates human rights, consumer protection, gas emissions and issues - even though this is loosely linked to trade
- encourages interdependence e.g. trade disruption within a bloc impacts all participating countries
- foreign firms gain domestic market share - sometimes at the expense of local companies
How much has China’s FDI increased by since 1985?
$0 in 1985
$135 billion in 2015
(due to policy aiming to increase in inflows and outflows)
How has transport in China increased FDI?
- Zhengzhou airport aims to have 5 runways handling 70m porringers yearly by 2030
- the airport inspires to be the centre of a city filled with logistics facilities, R and D centres, factories etc linking China to the global economy
- over 100 airports built in China since 2011
- despite intentions of boosting FDI, many airports are operating at a loss
- Zhengzhou Airport Economic Zone allows duty-free export and re-export of goods
- attracted dozens of mobile phone makers e.g. Foxconn factory employing 200,000 people year-round
What are special economic zones?
- large areas of land set aside in locations well placed for international trade, in which companies can import raw materials and export manufactures without incurring domestic taxes
How has China increased FDI through special economic zones?
China’s “open door” policy in 1978 opened 4 special economic zones in Southern China with tax incentives, to attract foreign capital and businesses - its economic growth in the 1980s is one of the fastest in world history
In what ways does globalisation vary between countries?
- environmentally
- economically
- socially
- politically
(countries can either be “switched on” or “switched off” to globalisation)
How can countries be environmentally “switched on” to globalisation?
e.g. China has natural resources e.g. coal, oil - providing energy security and a base for links with other countries that need that commodity, borders many countries increasing its capabilities of trade
How can countries be environmentally “switched off” to globalisation?
e.g. Nepal is landlocked and has Himalayas running through the country, physically limiting its trade