Globalization and Trade Liberalization

In this chapter, talks about Globalization and Trade. Wheelan starts by using the example of a magical machine that turns corn into stereo equipment. “Imagine a machine that can convert corn into a stereo equipment”. He says that no matter where in the world you look, trade is a machine that can turn anything into anything else. In trading we are practically taking what we produce and turning it into what we can’t or do not produce. The best part of the trade machine is that it allows countries to specialize in producing just one good and then taking that one good and turning it into another good. Since in the trade machine you just need one thing to get whatever you want, you basically take whatever you are better at and focus only on producing that in order to trade it with different people that can offer you what you lack. This is the heart of trade, specialization.

There are in some areas of globalization that can cause drawbacks, which were made prevalent with the European Union. The main drawback within the European Union was its economy. If one country within the organization were to have economic crisis then that country would affect all other country members. This was made clear in 2010 with the economic crisis presented in Greece. Many other countries within the Union were left to bail out the Greece economy; which in turn, hurt their own economies. The situation with Greece and the other European Union members is still a current issue; however, Union members say that they will continue to contribute to struggling economies. The world will continue to globalize businesses, economies, and

• Describe the concepts of capital and globalization presented in the introductory essay. Karl Marx is describing capital as a social order based on the class of people (Longhofer).

Theodore Levitt is often considered to be the first to recognize the trend towards globalization and states that: “companies must learn to operate as if the world were one large market – ignoring superficial regional and national differences…” In addition, he argues that the companies that do not adapt to the new global realities will become the victims of those that do.

We can see the effects of globalization in three major periods of time. The first starts in 1492 and goes all the way to 1800. This was a time where countries become more global with the rest of the world. Globalization 2.0 was from the 1800 to roughly 2000. This was a time of companies developing the global marketplace. Globalization 3.0 is a period of time we are in today. It will level the world and will be a period of individuals and small groups globalizing. “This era is not going to be

The modern world is in the third phase, which occurred post-World War II. Globalization shifted from the second phase into third because of instant communications and rapid growth of the world market.

Many authors feel that globalization has taken place in three waves. The first wave started in the late 1800s and lasted until the start of the 1900s. It was caused by a combination of falling transport costs and a reduction in tariff barriers. This opened up the possibility of using abundant land countries (Argentina, US, Australia and New Zealand). People immigrated to these countries and capital was invested in manufacturing in these countries. (World Bank, 2000) The

Globalization is changing the economic landscape in ways humans have never experienced before. Now more than ever corporations are moving their means of production overseas seeking the cheapest possible wages to produce their goods. This not only is affecting the labor market here in the United States, but it is seriously affecting the lives of workers worldwide, mainly impoverished nations. Low pay, long hours and almost no regulations regarding working conditions are contributing to the horrible working and living environments these workers must endure so that corporations can make the largest possible profits. Union have also felt the repercussions of globalism. Membership continues to plummet, and employers are benefiting from lack of government regulations that are opening the spillway for global capitalistic domination. Unions are losing ground on every front. It is essential that labor unions make some drastic changes in their structure, their policies and their organizing strategies so they can face the new challenges posed by a global economy ran by global capitalists who currently hold all the chips.

Globalization advanced free trade, open markets, and competition in the world economy. Regrettably, this worldwide amalgamation and growth contributed to the equalities and inequalities between third world nation-states. The growing populace placed an extra demand on the third world nation-states for food, shelter, and clothing. Consequently, Africa, South Asia, and Latin America grew anxious since their populaces are predisposed to diseases, famine, and premature death. In chapter one of Promises Not Kept: Poverty and The Betrayal of Third-World Development John Isbister declared that in the twentieth cen¬tury,

There are many ways to look at and understand modern globalization. In general terms, globalization means that the world, as a whole, is leading to a more utopian society, meaning that the globe is become very interconnected and similarities are growing between different regions and cultures of the world. Globalization is a phenomenon that has been evolving since before 10,000 B.C. This constant evolution can cause many problems, but it can also solve many issues positively as well. Development of any country, however, seems to be a key issue when discussing globalization. Globalization and development present two different factors in the world today. Many countries are lacking in their own development while the world around them is becoming more developed and globalized. Globalization hinders development because with globalization, less developed countries depend on more developed countries to help them to sustainability and self-reliance.

People around the world are more connected to each other than ever before. Information and money flow quicker than ever. Products produced in one part of a country are available to the rest of the world. It is much easier for people to travel, communicate and do business internationally. This whole phenomenon has been called globalization. Spurred on in the past by merchants, explorers, colonialists and internationalists, globalization has in more recent times been increasing rapidly due to improvements in communications, information and transport technology. It has also been encouraged by trade liberalization and financial market deregulation.

FDI grew quickly in the 1990’s. The U.S is the top destination of FDI and China and Brazil are in top five. The reasons for the increased activity were the opening of markets due to trade liberalisation and deregulation, pressure of competition brought about globalisation and technological changes, the importance of size as a factor in creating economies of scale and the desire to strengthen market position.

Economic globalization has become the most important feature and a general trend of present world economic development. Globalization is a phenomenon and also a process of development of mankind and human society (Hamilton, 2008). It is the essential feature of the modern age. Globalization is the cross-border flows of capital and goods, including capital, labour, technology and natural resources (Bożyk, Misala & Puławski, 2002). Economic globalization is a historical process, and the germination of it could date back to the 16th century. After the industrial revolution, capitalist commodity economy, modern industry and transportation have been developing rapidly. The world market was fast expanded and the foreign trade was

rages on, especially after periods of financial crisis, when countries retreat into protectionism due to the need to protect their domestic economy, encouraging domestic spending and production, and restraining trade with other nations through tariffs on imported goods, restrictive quotas and other restrictive government regulations (Fouda, R. 2012).

In today’s world, with a few notable exceptions, nearly everyone in every region of the world has access to the same products, information and services. A long-distance relationship is no longer so distant, since each party involved in the relationship can communicate through Skype, Facebook or through any of the vast amount of social media available. A person in Easter Island, one of the most remote inhabited islands in the world, can go to the other side of the world and travel to Canada. An economic crisis in Argentina could affect the economic landscape in Brazil. A person in Chile or Peru can buy an Abercrombie and Fitch t-shirt because this transnational corporation decided to expand its market to developing countries, or as you might prefer, to emerging economies in South America. Although many of these examples might be trivial, these are the consequences of globalization.