Globalization refers to the increasing integration and interdependence of world economies through increased trade and financial flows as well as information exchange. It involves two components: the globalization of markets, where companies market products globally, and the globalization of production, where companies produce goods using global supply chains. Technological advances and declining trade barriers have accelerated globalization in recent decades. Major global institutions like the WTO, IMF, World Bank and UN have also emerged to facilitate and govern the global economy.