Globalisation (Cambridge (CIE) O Level Geography)
Revision Note
Written by: Jacque Cartwright
Reviewed by: Bridgette Barrett
Globalisation
Globalisation is where the world has become more interconnected through the processes of economics, culture, politics, trade and tourism
Environmental globalisation can also be considered part of the interconnection as can be seen with the impacts of global warming
Globalisation is nothing new; trade between people, business and countries has always existed
Whereas trade would have taken weeks, month or even years in the past, modern transport and communications has made trading and interaction almost instantaneous - time-space compression
Globalisation has effectively removed the political borders of countries which makes countries more interdependent on each other, with the more powerful countries and business empires affecting decisions in other parts of the world
This has seen the rise in global inequality
These improvements and developments in communication and transport have made globalisation what it is today - a shrinking world
Time-Space Compression
Overall, connections around the globe are:
Faster - faster speeds for talking, travel, money exchange etc
Deeper - connecting lives with faraway places
Longer - connecting links between places are further apart
These connections are considered as network flows to places and populations through four significant developments:
Appearance of large transnational corporations (TNCs)
Growth of regional economics and trading blocs
Development of modern transport networks
Advances in IT and communications, particularly the WWW and the internet
Production chain
These developments have led to the global economy
Almost every country in the world has 'networked' in one way or another
There are five different network flows:
Trade - import and export of raw materials, food goods and services through the reduction of trade barriers
Aid - most aid is economic either through receiving or donating, allowing developing countries to invest in education, health, infrastructure and trade
Foreign investment - either directly or indirectly through business opportunities e.g. Shell oil investing in Niger
Labour - important to the working of the global economy and labour migration fuels this market either with a specialist or cheap labour
Information - fast data transfer and communication are vital to the global economy
The global production, supply or commodity chain pulls these flows together to produce goods or commodity
At each stage of the flow, value is added to the emerging product
Despite the miles involved and the number of countries involved; the product is still cheaper to produce in various stages
This is known as the Economies of Scale - the cost per item reduces when operated on a large scale
Transport improvements through large container ships mean that costs are reduced and moved further quicker
Labour costs are cheaper in emerging and developing countries and there are usually reduced legal restrictions
Global investment
Investment is not just monetary (economic), although this is a large part of it
Investment can be in people, research or products
Foreign investment is where individuals or firms from abroad invest in another country:
Call centres can be located anywhere e.g. India
Investment is made in the country through building the call centre, paying taxes etc.
Local people are employed and trained
Service is provided to the donor country - the UK
Moving manufacturing from developed to developing or emerging countries
China is the main area for manufacturing goods from around the world
Investment is made in China to produce goods
Completed goods are shipped back to the original country e.g. Germany
Investment in people either for cheap labour or for their expertise
Specialist surgeon from the USA to Australia
Investment in developments that attracts cheap labour - construction of Dubai attracts many Indian migrants
Research and development investment - motor car industry to build more fuel-efficient motoring - Elon Musk's Tesla electric cars
Investment can be from aid for rebuilding after a disaster - Ukraine will need aid after the war with Russia ends
Aid can be funds sent to the government to use as necessary, although this can often lead to corruption and funds not going where they should
Aid can be in form of goods and services directed to the affected area - refugee camps or after a natural hazard such as a tropical storm or earthquake
Transnational corporations (TNCs)
Transnational Corporations (TNCs) operate in foreign countries individually and not through a centralised management system
TNCs and countries are the two main elements of the global economy
Governments and global institutions set the rules for the global economy, but the main investment is through TNCs
TNCs involve themselves in all economic sectors and impact the global economy with the largest TNCs representing the biggest percentage of total global production
TNCs directly invest in one country and later expand to other nations (usually developing countries) to take advantage of lower labour costs and incentives
They may not be loyal to the operating country's values and will only look to the expansion of their business as they have no connection to the country they operate in
It is the process of moving manufacturing around the globe that has resulted in the development of emerging countries such as China, India and Brazil
Examiner Tips and Tricks
Remember that Transnational Corporations (TNCs) are not the same as Multinational Corporations (MNCs)
The biggest difference is that an MNC has a home country that makes decisions and passes them around the global companies, whereas TNCs operate independently
An example of an MNC is Apple, where R&D and major decisions are made in California and passed along the operating chain
Cadbury's chocolate is a TNC as they have to make decisions to vary the recipe to local tastes and conditions - e.g. the chocolate is sweeter in China
Worked Example
Identify the meaning of the term TNC
[1 mark]
| A | Translocal Corporation |
| B | Transnational Corporation |
| C | Transnational Country |
| D | Transporting National Corporation |
Answer:
B [1] - as none of the other terms exist.
Impacts of globalisation on people
Globalisation has generated benefits and costs for many people but at different levels
Some have benefitted more than others with the poorest tending to be the losers
However, it can be argued that without globalisation the poorest would be worse off than they are now, as they job opportunities and income from inward investment from TNCs
Countries such as China, Brazil and India have transformed themselves from developing to emerging economies which has directly benefitted their population
Gender gap within individual countries is generally lower in more globalised countries
Skilled workers are in demand and benefit from globalisation more than unskilled workers
Benefits and Cost of Globalisation to People at a Variety of Levels
| Benefit | Cost |
|---|---|---|
Local Level | Cheaper products available for people Greater choice of goods Bigger export market for domestic manufacturers Integration of cultures - multi-culture Education and skills are improved More freedom of movement Spread of technology and innovation A higher standard of living Availability of housing, sanitation, food and water is better Gender equality and gender pay gap closing in developed countries | Small local businesses cannot compete with global companies Labour drain - skilled workers migrate elsewhere leaving unskilled or no workers behind Dependence on single TNC employment Worker exploitation/cheap labour Closure of TNC leaves high unemployment rates Cultural dilution or loss of cultural identity Environmental cost of increased production, trade and growth Pollution impacts the health of people Daily living costs increased |
National Level | Higher levels of incoming revenue from tourism, exports and imports Growth of improved health care, infrastructure, social care and education Social mobility is greater - access to higher education and senior leadership roles TNC offer apprenticeships and incentives for progression | Increased levels of disparity between places - some towns and cities will benefit more from government policies Social mobility is limited to urban areas, people in rural areas need to migrate TNCs control a large labour force and can 'black list' workers, effectively preventing people from working elsewhere Industrial growth impacts the environment - burning fossil fuels adds to global warming and pollution Growth of urban slums |
International Level | Skilled workers are in demand and can move relatively easily between countries Higher levels of income and quality of life Access to wide levels of skills and research International trade routes and foreign investment improves opportunities | Movement of people, transport ownership and loss of biodiversity increases globally The impact is greater on developing countries, particularly remote rural areas, increasing the development gap Decisions made elsewhere do not consider local or national identities The movement of skilled workers and researchers leaves an imbalance in developing and emerging countries, reducing the potential for further development unless they pay higher wages, leading to higher global costs |
Impacts of globalisation on countries
TNCs are key in globalisation
They link raw materials with manufacturers, research and development opportunities and products with global markets
Global marketing establishes TNCs as 'the brand' to have
However, TNCs answer to shareholders and need to maximise their profits, usually at the cost of their workers
TNCs therefore, can impact positively or negatively on countries
Benefits and Cost of Globalisation to Countries at a Variety of Levels
Benefits | Costs |
|---|---|
TNCs bring skills, opportunities, money and technology to developing and emerging countries | TNCs pay low wages and expect long hours and are generally exploitive, particularly of female workers |
Inward investment to host countries increase the level development | TNCs are powerful and are not loyal to a host country's government - investment can disappear as quickly as it came |
Host country's infrastructure is improved by TNC or for TNC - access, communications, energy supplies etc. | TNCs can leave a country if global or local economies change or somewhere else becomes more profitable |
TNCs create jobs, allowing people to buy more and pay more tax | Profits 'leak' out of the host country either to open up new business elsewhere or are paid in bonuses and dividends to share holders |
Foreign currency is earned through exports | TNCs often ignore the environmental and social costs of their investment |
TNCs have a multiplier effect through encouraging other industries to grow up around them | TNC jobs are often boring, repetitive and don't develop skills - effectively trapping their workers in the company |
Case Study - Nike
Make sure you know your case study of the global operation of a TNC
You need to be able to identify the costs and benefits to the host country as well as to the TNCs own country of origin
For example, you could produce something along these lines on the USA based company Nike
Country | Cost | Benefit |
|---|---|---|
Vietnam | Exploitation of workers Poor working conditions Child labour | Substantial employment Pays higher wages than local firms Status of brand encourages other TNCs to invest |
USA | Indirect loss of jobs as manufacturing is outsourced Balance of profit to cost isn't passed onto the customer Company image damaged due to outsourcing | Bigger profits made as manufacturing costs are lower High level skills in design, R&D in demand |
Remember to keep it simple and use facts and figures to keep it 'real' and not a generic case study
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