Globalization and outsourcing

Question 1

Globalization is a complex and controversial phenomena, what kind of benign (godartade) forces can be given through globalization?

Answer 1

Opportunities: Economic prosperity (=välstånd) and generalized well-being throughout the world.

Question 2

Globalisation is a complex and controversial phenomena, what kind of malign (skadliga) forces can be given through globalization?

Answer 2

Risks: Increasing inequality throughout the world, poverty, ecological degradation (=ekologisk nedbrytning), illicit trade (o=olaglig handel) and crime.

Question 3

What are the main drivers of globalization? (7 bullet points exists).

Answer 3

• Liberalisation of international trade
• Reduction of barriers to economic transactions
  Expansion of FDI (foreign direct investment)
• Increasing deregulation (including changes favourable to FDI)
• Massive cross-border capital/financial flows
• New technologies + declining transport costs
• New companies’ strategies (joint ventures, …)
• Deregulation and privatisation

Question 4

Mention some of the impacts of globalization.

Answer 4

• -> Global production systems
• National capital has become global capital
• “Made in the world”
  
  • Hich-tech industries
  • Labour intensive consumer goods (textiles, garments and footwear)
  • … informal economy increased in developing countries
  • Labour exploitation (arbetsutnyttjande)
• Asymmetries among countries, regions, workers and social groups
  
  • High inequalities in working, employment and living conditions (pay, protection, skills trainining and occupational development, interest of work…)

Question 5

What is the social impact of globalization? (correlated to the other impacts of globalization)

Answer 5

• Asymmetries within countries: regions, workers and social groups
  
  • Concentration of wealth and income inequality
  • Rise in unemployment and job precariousness
  • Rise in inequalities in working, employment and living conditions (pay, protection, skills trainining and occupational development, interest of work…) The growth of a new class: the working poor
  • The increasing risk of social exclusion in rich countries
    –» rise in crime, insecurity…
• Ecological degradation (ekologisk nedbrytning)
• Rise in illicit activities (tax evasion, crime associated to money laundering, trafficking of people, sex and drug trades), organised terrorism
  at a global scale…

Question 6

Lisbon forum group have identified sustainable globalization, which is defined as a process with a strong focus on what?

Answer 6

Sustainable globalization: A process of globalization with a strong SOCIAL dimension.

Question 7

Mention some of the focus areas in sustainable globalization

Answer 7

• A focus on people
• A democratic and effective state
• Sustainable development
• Globalization with solidarity
• Greater accountability to people
• Deeper partnerships
• An effective United Nations

Question 8

“The three jobs of the future” is the name of paper 5, written by Robert Reich. Which are these three jobs of the future?

Answer 8

• Routine production services
• In-person services
• Symbolic-analytic services
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