Globalization: History, Trends, and Technologies
Globalization is textually defined as the development of an increasingly integrated global economy marked especially by free trade and free flow of capital, and the tapping of cheaper foreign labor markets (Webster’s Dictionary). Within this definition we can see so many vital pieces that need to coexist in order for it to be a truly globalized environment in this world. Globalization is term that is currently being used more frequently but it doesn’t mean the early forms of it were not already in motion. From the early second century BC, “silk roads” were being formed which traded goods from one part of a country to another. Early empires were thriving on globalizing their countries by creating routes and trails to communicate and transport goods. Globalization has expanded boundaries for 3rd world nations who were underdeveloped to become more civilized in their governance. To understand further where globalization spreads its roots, we must go deeper into the fundamentals of free trade, the free flow of capital and advantage taken of foreign labor markets.
First off, free trade has barriers from one another at different levels.
In running our personal affairs, virtually all of us exploit the advantages of free trade and comparative advantage without thinking twice (Blinder). Free trade essentially introduces new technologies to 3rd world countries and helps them develop a stronger economy and find a new quality of life. The advantages of free trade are described by the theory of comparative advantage, which defined means a lower relative cost of production than someone else. With this as long as each country specializes in products that it has a comparative advantage in, ...
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...y globalization shortens boarders.
While many imperfections still show on the overwhelming change that is globalization, there has been a strong amount of positive development that the world has gone through. Through the means of free trade and utilizing foreign markets globalization spreads to new corners of the world seeking new countries to innovate and grow.
Reference:
(n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/globalization
(2006, 02). Free Trade. StudyMode.com. Retrieved 02, 2006, from http://www.studymode.com/essays/Free-Trade-78394.html
Schroy, J. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.capital-flow-analysis.com/investment-essays/globalization.html
(n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.globalexchange.org/fairtrade/sweatfree/faq
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Our global world is being more connected as we become integrated politically, socially and even economically. Due to the Bretton woods agreement, different countries have been economically dependent on each other in fear for war to erupt. From then on different organizations and policies tied more countries into being economic globalized. This economic globalization had then given us many opportunities in trades and more access to natural resources in other countries. Unfortunately, there are some negative effects that are brought to less developed country. Overall, many people believe that economic globalization does a great work on accumulating our economy and our quality of life.
Globalization helps many people achieve greatness. But for the majority it brings hardships and struggle. People will be plagued by the effects of globalization and will have a tough time over coming it. We are far from reaching a point where we can say we have sustainable prosperity throughout our world. But before we focus in on sustaining prosperity, we must first reach prosperity and bring it to all corners or the earth.
While free trade has certainly changed with advances in technology and the ability to create external economies, the concept seems to be the most benign way for countries to trade with one another. Factoring in that imperfect competition and increasing returns challenge the concept of comparative advantage in modern international trade markets, the resulting introduction of government policies to regulate trade seems to result in increased tensions between countries as individual nations seek to gain advantages at the cost of others. While classical trade optimism may be somewhat naïve, the alternatives are risky and potentially harmful.
All nations can get the benefits of free trade by being specialized in producing goods they have a comparative advantage and then trade them with goods produced by other nations in the world. This is evidenced by comparative advantage theory. Trade depends on many factors, country's history, institution, size and. geographical position and many more. Also, the countries put trade barriers for the exchange of their goods and services with other nations in order to protect their own company from foreign competition, or to protect consumers from undesirable products, or sometimes it may be inadvertent.
The Law of Comparative Advantage was introduced by David Ricardo in 1817 in his book ‘Principles of Political Economy and Taxation’. According to this classical theory, a comparative advantage exists for a country when it has a margin of superiority in the production of a certain commodity over others. Comparative advantage results from differing endowments in the factors of production like technology, natural endowments, climate, etc. among different countries. Therefore, each country exports the commodities which it can produce at a lower opportunity cost or, in other words, lower marginal cost of production and imports the rest. This would ultimately be beneficial for all countries engaging in free trade as each would gain through its specialization
When the world price for a product is higher than the domestic price for the same product, then the nation should take part in international trade. In this situation the nation has a comparative advantage in the product and by increasing production and export the excess will result in greatly profits and efficiency of their resources. If the world price for a good is lower than the domestic price, consumer will be spending less their income as the product can be imported from another country for a cheaper price. The benefit of the producer of a good and the consumer of a good will be more than the costs in either scenario. Consumers will spend a greater portion of their income when there are exports of their desired good, but the increase in a producer’s profit more than compensates for any losses. This means that free trade will be beneficial even if they are an importer or an exporter of a good as the benefits will be greater than the
In order for international trade to work well, governments must allow the world market to determine how goods are sold, manufactured and traded for all to economically prosper. While all nations may have the capability to produce any goods or services needed by their population, it is not possible for all nations to have a comparative advantage for producing a good due to natural resources of the country or other available resources needed to produce a good or service. The example of trading among states comprising the United States is an example of how free trade works best without the interve...
Globalization is a term which holds a multitude of meanings. It has been defined as a phenomenon which has enabled individuals and businesses to seamlessly interact with each other without borders. Globalization displays increasing trade and investment following the disappearance barriers and the interdependence between states (Galateanu, 2012). Even though an agreed upon definition is difficult to obtain, globalization is the process which expands businesses across borders. It integrates the socie...
Introduction: Globalization is a broad term which describes the spread of technology, trade and democracy across the world. Globalization has had long reaching effect on the development of the world.
Globalization is defined as “the historical process involving a fundamental shift or transformation in the spatial scale of human social organization that links distant communities and expands the reach of power relations across regions and continents (Baylis, 2014).”
Free trade is a policy that relies on the concept of comparative advantage that when comparing two countries one of those countries will have the capability to make a product that is better than the other country. So it is best if each country focuses its efforts and resources into one product to increase the economic activity for both countries. The determination of who produces a product better is based on the open market without intervention from a government who may try to control a trade by imposing government protective measures such as tariffs. The World Trade Organization has been tasked with monitoring free trade, but it has been noted that their policing has not been effective to stop such interventions. Free trade not only relies on a laissez-faire approach but also on assumptions of conditions. The assumptions used by many for economic theories are not always accurate but rather the justification for using the assumptions is so that economic theories can be applied for the greater good of an economy.
Globalization’s history is extremely diversified and began during the beginning of civilization. Now we live in a world that is constantly evolving, demanding people to use resources in locations that are very difficult to obtain certain resources. This could make it completely impossible to operate in these specific parts of the world. However, globalization allows people across the world to acquire much needed resources. Globalization creates the opportunity for businesses to take advantage and exploit the ability to take part of their business to a different country. Nevertheless, globalization is part of today’s society and will be involved in virtually all situations.
Globalization is the connection of different parts of the world. Globalization results in the expansion of international, cultural, economic, and political activities. As people, ideas, knowledge, and goods move easily around the globe, the experiences of people around the world become more similar. (“Definition of Globalization“, n.d., ¶ 1)
Globalization has taken place in the past when state and empires expanded their influence far outside their border. However, one of the distinctions of globalization today is the speed with which it is transforming local culture as they took part in a worldwide system of interconnectedness. Through globalization, many cultures in the world have changed dramatically.
Globalization has been a start of a new modernized era in history. The source states that as an individual you are given prosperity, stability, and also predictability, and also points out that it helps developing countries modernize and catch up with developed countries, and also reduce poverty since new businesses are formed allowing more employment in the country due to the subsidies that wealthier countries give to them. The person who wrote this source is a pro globalist, and has probably experienced the prosperity that was given to them because of the global trading system. His perspective on globalization suggests that globalization is the key to advancing technology, good relations between countries, and is beneficial event in history. One should embrace the global economy as it creates many roads to achieve your goals in your life, and also for the weaker countries that needs support, but to a degree that the government can intervene with the market.