Globalization is occurring across multiple dimensions including economic, cultural, political and financial spheres. Key aspects of globalization include the merging of national markets into a global marketplace, the dispersal of production activities across countries, and the increasing flow of ideas, culture and information enabled by advances in technology. Both opportunities and challenges arise from globalization, such as more competitive prices for consumers but also potential job losses and increased cultural homogenization.

1. SECTION-1
Globalization
Introduction
The global telecommunications industry, which was profiled in the opening case, is one
industry at the forefront of this development. A decade ago most national telecommunications
markets were dominated by state-owned monopolies and isolated from each other by substantial
barriers to cross-border trade and investment.
This is rapidly becoming a thing of the past. A global telecommunications market
is emerging. In this new market, prices are being bargained down as telecommunications providers
compete with each other around the world for residential and business customers. The big
winners are the customers, who should see the price of telecommunications services plummet,
saving them billions of dollars. The rapidly emerging global economy raises a multitude of
issues for businesses both large and small. It creates opportunities for businesses to expand
their revenues, drive down their costs, and boost their profits started accompany to manufacture
it, and has now sold the mouse to consumers worldwide, using the Internet as his distribution
channel.
What is Globalization?
1. The Globalization of Markets
The globalization of markets refers to the merging of historically distinct and separate
national markets into one huge global marketplace. It has been argued forsome time that the tastes and
preferences of consumers‘ indifferent nations are beginning to converge on some global norm, thereby
helping to create a global market. The global acceptance of consumer products such as Citicorp credit
cards, Coca-Cola…. By offering a standardized product worldwide, they are helping to create a
global market. A company does not have to be the size of these multinational giants to facilitate,
and benefit from, the globalization of markets.
In the case of many products, these differences frequently require that marketing
strategies, product features, and operating practices be customized to best match conditions in a
country.Thusdifferentcarmodelsdependingonawholerangeoffactorssuchaslocalfuel costs, income levels,
traffic congestion, and cultural values. The most global markets currently are not markets
for consumer products--where national differences in tastes and preferences are still often
important enough to act as a brake on globalization--but markets for industrial goods and
materials that serve a universal need the world over. These include the markets for commodities
such as aluminium, oil, and wheat, the markets for industrial products such as microprocessors.
In many global markets, the same firms frequently confront each other as competitors in nation
after nation.
2. The Globalization of Production

2. The globalization of production refers to the tendency among firms to source goods and
services from locations around the globe to take advantage of national differences in the cost and quality of
factors of production. By doing so, companies hope to lower their overall cost structure or
improve the quality or functionality of their product offering, thereby allowing them to compete
more effectively. The result of having a global web of suppliers is a better final product, which
enhances the chances of Boeing winning a greater share of total orders for aircraft than its global
rival, Airbus. Boeing also out sources some production to foreign Countries to increase the
chance that it will win significant orders from airliners based in that country. The global
dispersal of productive activities is not limited to giants such as Boeing. Many much
smaller firms are also getting into the act. Nevertheless, we are travelling down the road toward a
future characterized by the increased globalization of markets and production. Modern firms are
important actors in this drama, fostering by their very actions increased globalization. These firms,
however, are merely responding in an efficient manner to changing conditions in their operating
environment--as well they should. In the next section, we look at the main drivers
of globalization.
Aspects of Globalization
Characteristics/Features of Globalization
1. Borderless
Globalization is about an increasingly borderless world and its societal consequences.
The causes of globalization are technological, economic and ideological. The societal
consequences are very much in terms of the diminishing capacity of governance by governments
and in relation to that the rebound (the counter effects both in terms of attitudes and of
institutions) against aspects of globalization; against the dominance of the market
(economization), against Americanization and in reaction to the diminishment of quality of life.

3. 2. Information Technology Changes
Increase in information flows and greater transporter data flow between geographically
remote locations. Arguably this is a technological change with the advent of fiber optic
communications, satellites, and increased availability of wireless telephone and Internet.
3. Mobility
The characteristic of globalization given more mobility and less transport costs means per
definition more competition and more dynamism. "However, that competition does not mean per
se increased trade flows. Therefore economists defining globalization in their simplified
approach as increased trade flows have to conclude per definition that there is not much
globalization."
4. International Cooperation
The increasing of the multinational corporations, regional and global organizations leads
to the members of the international community expanding from a single nation to the
transnational corporations, international organizations, and international non-governmental
organizations. In these three groups of actors, except for the individual international military
treaty organization, only the country and country alliance have the capability of "plate
movement".
5. Talents Mobility and Integration
Globalization has increased the growth of the multinational corporations, and also
brought the talent mobility and integration. More and more personnel dispatched by the
corporations to the branches in other countries, and they learn and share the experience or do the
project with the local employees. This kind of talents mobility and cooperation can increase the
business performance.
6. Cultural Diversity
Because of the globalization and new technology, it has been found that cultural diversity
reflects on the food, music, art, life style, customs and race. The western culture has mixed with
the eastern culture. For instance, McDonalds Corporation has expanded to be world wide, and
you can see the logo of ―M‖ everywhere. Also, the Hollywood movies are very popular in
Asia. Globalization has not only promoted cultural blending, but also driven a lot of business
opportunities.
7. Liberalization:
The freedom of the industrialist/businessman to establish industry, trade or commerce
either in his country or abroad; free exchange of capital, goods, service and technologies between
countries;
8. Free Trade:
Free trade between countries; absence of excessive governmental control over trade;
9. Globalization of Economic Activities:

4. Control of economic activities by domestic market and international market; coordination
of national economy and world economy;
10. Connectivity:
Localities being connected with the world by breaking national boundaries; forging of
links between one society and another, and between one country and another through
international transmission of knowledge, literature, technology, culture and information.
11. A Composite Process:
Integration of nation-states across the world by common economic, commercial, political,
cultural and technological ties; creation of a new world order with no national boundaries;
12. A Multi-dimensional Process:
Economically, it means opening up of national market, free trade and commerce among
nations, and integration of national economies with the world economy. Politically, it means
limited powers and functions of state, more rights and freedoms granted to the individual and
empowerment of private sector; culturally, it means exchange of cultural values between
societies and between nations; and ideologically, it means the spread of liberalism and
capitalism.
13. A Top-Down process:
Globalization originates from developed countries and the MNCs (multinational
corporations) based in them. Technologies, capital, products and services come from them to
developing countries. It is for developing countries to accept these things, adapt themselves to
them and to be influenced by them.
As a result, the values and norms of developed countries are gradually rooted in
developing countries. This leads to the growth of a monoculture - the culture of the north
(developed countries) being imposed on the South (developing countries). This involves the
erosion and loss of the identity and the cultures of developing countries. Globalization is thus a
one-way traffic: it flows from the North to the South.
But this view of globalization has been contested. Some scholars have argued that
globalization tends to provoke backlash at the community, local, regional and ethnic levels when
the national government fails to resist or counter the invasion of globalization.
In the face of aggression of globalization, the people, in protest against the failure of the
national government to defend them, develop or strengthen their allegiance to their community,
locality, region or ethnic group. In this process, local identity, regional identity and ethnic
identity take root and get strengthened. Thus globalization goes hand in hand with localization,
regionalization and multiculturalism.
14. Global State vs Global Civil Society:
In protest against the harmful effects of globalization on the vast multitude of people all
over the world, particularly in developing countries, protest marches, demonstrations and
meetings have been organized in different countries. These protests have taken militant forms in
the last decade. Protest groups have tried to disturb and paralyse the meetings of WTO, World
Bank and IMF.

5. They charge that these UN-based organizations have been the agents of globalization and
that they have been used by developed countries as their instruments to exploit and dominate
developing countries. These protest groups-environmental groups, human rights groups,
women's groups, farmers' groups and peace groups have interlocked themselves at the global
level.
As a result, a global civil society, though yet not fully developed, has come into being,
but a global state is a distant dream. The UN and its affiliated organizations which could have
been the foundation of a global state have been weakened by many forces including glo-
balization.
Advantages of Globalization
Resources of different countries are used for producing goods and services they are able
to do most efficiently.
Consumers to get much wider variety of products to choose from.
Consumers get the product they want at more competitive prices.
Companies are able to procure input goods and services required at most competitive
prices.
Companies get access to much wider markets.
It promotes understanding and goodwill among different countries.
Businesses and investors get much wider opportunities for investment.
Adverse impact of fluctuations in agricultural productions in one area can be reduced by
pooling of production of different areas.
Disadvantages of Globalization
Exploitation of Underdeveloped Countries: Multinational Corporations (MNCs), based
in developed countries, purchase at lower rates the raw materials from backward
countries, process them in their own countries and sell the manufactured goods with big
profit in backward countries.
Increase in Unemployment: The MNCs employ machines to reduce the number of
employees: they are capital intensive rather labor. Further, the governments of
developing countries have started withdrawing investment from industries in the public
sector. All this has led to huge unemployment in those countries.
Widening of Rich-poor Gap: Globalization brings benefits to the rich who are small in
number and keeps the vast majority of people in poverty and misery. It is a game of
winners and losers. Those who are already rich succeed in taking advantage of
privatization while the poor and weak are doomed to suffer.
Harmful Effects of Consumerism: Globalization produces consumerism. People being
attracted by attractive goods and advertisements, want to buy these goods. They would
not hesitate to earn money for this by unfair means. This has resulted in vast increase in
corruption and other social evils.
Adverse Effects on Social Security and Social Welfare: Because of privatization,
governments in many developing countries are withdrawing from the sector of social

6. welfare and private companies have entered educations, health and other such fields
related to development. As a result of this, poor people are facing a lot of difficulties.
Harmful Effects on Small Industries and Small Business: In the free economy, the big
fish has got license to eat the small fish. Small-scale and cottage industries cannot grow
in competition with big ones.
Cultural Homogenization: Globalization would lead to cultural homogenization. Each
nation/society has its own distinct culture, but under globalization the cultures of
developing countries are eroded and they are required to accept the values and norms of
developed countries.
Hostile to Humanism: Globalization would kill humanism. It aims at accelerating
economic growth, and economic growth, according to its protagonists, can be quickly
attained through privatization. Pursuit of growth hardly respects human values.
Erosion of Democracy: Globalization has led to the weakening, erosion and even
destruction of democracy. Globalization has considerably increased the wealth and power
of multinational corporations and they have tended to interfere with and control the
economic policy and politics of developing countries.
Gender-Insensitive: Globalization is gender-insensitive. Women have suffered a lot
under globalization. In the privatized economy, the interests and concerns of women,
particularly of poor women, have been seriously ignored.
Destructive of Environment: Globalization would destroy environment. In the name of
economic development, environment is blindly destroyed.
Effects of Globalization
Enhancement in the information flow between geographically remote locations
The global common market has a freedom of exchange of goods and capital
There is a broad access to a range of goods for consumers and companies
Worldwide production markets emerge
Free circulation of people of different nations leads to social benefits
Global environmental problems like cross-boundary pollution, over fishing on oceans,
climate changes are solved by discussions
More trans-border data flow using communication satellites, the internet, wireless
telephones, etc.
International criminal courts and international justice movements are launched
It is claimed that globalization increases the economic prosperity and opportunity in the
developing world. The civil liberties are enhanced and there is a more efficient use of
resources. All the countries involved in the free trade are at a profit.. In two decades from
1981 to 2001, the number of people surviving on $1 or less per day decreased from 1.5
billion to 1.1 billion. Simultaneously, the world population also increased. Thus, the
percentage of such people decreased from 40% to 20% in such countries.
Advantages of Global Marketing
Lower Marketing Costs: If you are to consider the lump-sum cost, then, yes, it is high,
but the same cost goes even higher if the company has to market a product differently in
every country that it is selling.

7. Global Scope: Scope of this kind of marketing is so large that it becomes a unique
experience.
Brand image Consistency: Global marketing allows you to have a consistent image in
every region that you choose to market.
Quick and Efficient Use of Ideas: A global entity is able to use a marketing idea and
mold it into a strategy to implement on a global scale.
Uniformity in Marketing Practices: A global entity can keep some degree of uniformity
in marketing throughout the world.
Disadvantages of Global Marketing
Inconsistency in Consumer Needs: American consumer will be different from the South
African. Global marketing should be able to address that.
Consumer Response Inconsistency: Consumer in one country may react differently than
a consumer in another country.
Country Specific Brand and Product: Japanese might like a product to have a traditional
touch, whereas an American might like to add a retro modern look to it. In this case, a
global strategy is difficult to devise.
The Laws of the Land Have to be Considered: Original company policies may be
according to the laws of home countries. The overseas laws may be conflicting in these
policies.
Infrastructural Differences: Infrastructure may be hampering the process in one country
and accelerating in another. Global strategy cannot be consistent in such a scenario.
Types of Globalization
1. Economic Globalization: No national economy is an island now. To varying degrees,
national economies influence one another. One country which is capital-rich invests in
another country which is poor. One who has better technologies sells these to others who
lack such technologies. The products of an advanced country enter the markets of those
countries that have demands for these products. Similarly, the natural resources of
developing countries are sold to developed countries that need them. Thus, globalization
is predominantly an economic process involving the transfer of economic resources form
one country to another. Example: NAFTA, EU, Multinational corporations
2. Cultural Globalization: Culture has increasingly become a commodity. Popular books
and films have international markets. Harry Potter has readers almost all over the world.
English movies are seen almost in all countries. Western pop music has become popular
in developing countries. The reverse flow of culture is insignificant. The flow of culture
is mainly from the North to the South. In the last few years the media owners of the West
have shown interest in entering developing countries. For example, Murdoch has opened
TV channels (STAR News, STAR Movies and STAR Plus) in India. Cultural
globalization has been facilitated by the information revolution, the spread of satellite
communication, telecommunication networks, information technology and the Internet
etc. This global flow of ideas, knowledge and values is likely to flatten out cultural
differences between nations, regions and individuals. As this flow of culture is mainly

8. from the centre to the periphery, from the North to the South, and from the towns and
cities to villages, it is the cultures of villages of poor countries which will be the first to
suffer erosion. e.g. The Simpsons is shown in over 200 countries in the world.
3. Political Globalization: Since long, efforts have been on to bring the whole world under
one government. The League of Nations and the UN have been the efforts in that
direction. It is believed that the world under one government will be safer and freer from
conflicts: The UN has belied expectations, but a number of regional organizations like
European Union, ASEAN, APEC and SAARC, and multicultural economic organizations
such as WTO have come up. The member-states remain sovereign, but through their
obligations and commitments, they have, to some extent, integrated themselves to the
concerned international organizations and groupings.
4. Financial globalization
1. Consolidation of financial institutions
2. Globalization of operations -Banking conglomerates extend their reach by forming
strategic alliances with similar institutions in different countries.
3. New technologies -Money moves across national boundaries at the touch of a button -
Advances in telecommunications are expanding foreign markets without having physical
branches there.
4. Universalization of Banking -Growing competition in financial markets and
increasing irrelevance of national borders and increasingly complex relationships among
Interconnection of the world‘s financial systems e.g. stock markets
More of a connection between large cities than of nations
Example: What happens in Asian markets affects the North American markets.
5. Technological Globalization
Connection between nations through technology such as television, radio, telephones,
internet, etc.
Was traditionally available only to the rich but is now far more available to the poor.
Much less infrastructure is needed now.
6. Political Globalization: Political issues in one part of the world directly or indirectly
affect many other areas
Concentrated on multilateral institutions; organizations composed of many states
pursuing common goals
National policies of one country are intertwined with those of other countries and many
national problems can be solved through global cooperation.
countries are attempting to adopt similar political policies and styles of government in
order to facilitate other forms of globalization
e.g. move to secular governments, free trade agreements, etc
7. Ecological Globalization
seeing the Earth as a single ecosystem rather than a collection of separate ecological
systems because so many problems are global in nature

9. e.g. International treaties to deal with environmental issues like biodiversity, climate
change or the ozone layer, wildlife reserves that span several countries
8. Sociological Globalization
A growing belief that we are all global citizens and should all be held to the same
standards – and have the same rights
e.g. the growing international ideas that capital punishment is immoral and that women
should have all the same rights as men.
Positive and Negative Impacts of Globalization
As mentioned above, globalization is creating numerous opportunities for sharing
knowledge, technology, social values, and behavioral norms and promoting developments at
different levels including individuals, organizations, communities, and societies across different
countries and cultures. In particular, the advantages of globalization may include the following:
1. Global sharing of knowledge, skills, and intellectual assets that are necessary to multiple
developments at different levels;
2. Mutual support, supplement and benefit to produce synergy for various developments of
countries, communities, and individuals;
3. Creating values and enhancing efficiency through the above global sharing and mutual support
to serving local needs and growth;
4. Promoting international understanding, collaboration, harmony and acceptance to cultural
diversity across countries and regions; and
5. Facilitating multi-way communications and interactions, and encouraging multi-cultural
contributions at different levels among countries.
But at the same time, it is potentially creating serious negative impacts on the indigenous
developments, particularly those developing or underdeveloped countries. This is also the major
reason why there have been so many ongoing social movements in different parts of the world to
against the trends of globalization particularly in economic and political areas. The potential
negative impacts of globalization are various types of political, economic, and cultural
colonization and overwhelming influences of advanced countries to developing countries and
rapidly increasing gaps between rich areas and poor areas in different parts of the world. In
particular, the potential negative impacts include the following: (Table 1)
1. Increasing the technological gaps and digital divides between advanced countries and less
developed countries that are hindering equal opportunities for fair global sharing;
2. Creating more legitimate opportunities for a few advanced countries to economically and
politically colonize other countries globally;
3. Exploiting local resources and destroying indigenous cultures of less advanced countries to
benefit a few advanced countries; Fostering Local Knowledge & Wisdom in Globalized
Education
4. Increasing inequalities and conflicts between areas and cultures; and
5. Promoting the dominant cultures and values of some advanced areas and accelerating cultural
transplant from advanced areas to less developed areas

10. Table 1: Potential Positive and Negative Impacts of Globalization
Clearly, the management and control of the impacts of globalization are related to some
complicated macro and international issues that may be far beyond the scope of this paper. But in
general, many people believe, education is one of key local factors that can be used to moderate
some impacts of globalization from negative to positive and convert threats into opportunities for
the development of individuals and local community in the inevitable process of globalization.
How to maximize the positive effects but minimize the negative impacts of globalization is a
major concern in current educational reform for national and local developments. Specifically,
what is the relationship between the local knowledge systems and the global knowledge system
in globalization? How can we foster local knowledge and wisdom for individual and local
developments through globalization in education and from the global knowledge system,
particularly in those developing countries that are facing the challenges of losing local identity in
overwhelming globalization?
Why are Globalization and International Business Important?

11. As people, firms, and other organizations have expanded their access to resources, goods,
services, and markets across wider geographical areas, they have also become more deeply
affected (positively and negatively) by conditions outside their home countries. Globalization
refers to the ongoing social, economic, and political process that deepens the relationships and
broadens the interdependencies amongst nations—their people, their firms, their organizations,
and their governments. International business involves all commercial transactions—private and
governmental—between parties of two or more countries. Global events and competition affect
almost all firms—large or small. However, the international environment is more complex and
diverse than a firm‘s domestic environment. There are many reasons which make globalization
important:
1. Globalization is transforming our societies and commercial activities. The drivers of
globalization are increasing competition everywhere, and companies must remain vigilant.
2. Each national business environment consists of unique cultural, political, legal, and economic
characteristics. Companies must be attentive to nuances and adapt products and practices as
needed.
3. International business environment directly and indirectly influences how business is
conducted. Firms must closely monitor events here.
4. Context of international business management is defined by the characteristics of national
business environments. Managers must abide by the rules in every market in which they conduct
business.
Why Companies Engage in International Business
When engaging in international business, a firm should consider its mission, its
objectives, and its possible strategies. Primary objectives would include the following:
A. To Expand Sales: Companies may increase the potential market for their sales by pursuing
international consumer and industrial markets.
B. Acquire Resources: Foreign-sourced goods, services, components, capital, technology, and
information can make a firm more competitive both at home and abroad.
C. Minimize Risk: Firms seek foreign markets in order to minimize cyclical effects on sales and
profits. Defensively, they may also wish to counter the potential advantages that competitors
might gain from participating in foreign market opportunities.
The Forces Behind Globalization
Globalization is a difficult concept to measure. Currently, about 25 percent of world
production is sold outside of its country of origin, restrictions on imports continue to decline, the
foreign ownership of assets as a percent of world production continues to increase, and world
trade continues to grow more rapidly than world production. That said, on a value basis, only a
few countries (mainly very small nations) either sell more than half of their production abroad or
source more than half of their consumption from foreign countries. Further, the principal source

12. of capital in almost all nations is still domestic. Following are seven interrelated factors that
have contributed to the spiraling growth in globalization.
A. Increase in and Expansion of Technology: Vast improvements in transportation and
communications technology—including the development of the Internet—have significantly
increased the effectiveness and efficiency of international business operations.
B. Liberalization of Cross-Border Trade and Resource Movements: Over time most
governments have lowered restrictions on trade and foreign investment in response to the
expressed desires of their citizens and producers. In addition, the General Agreement on Tariffs
and Trade, the development of economic blocs such as the European Union, and other such
facilitating mechanisms has provided increased access to many foreign markets.
C. Development of Services: That Support International Business Services provided by
government, banks, transportation companies, and other businesses greatly facilitate the conduct
and reduce the risks of doing business internationally.
D. Growing Consumer Pressures: Because of innovations in transportation and
communications technology, consumers are well-informed about and often able to access foreign
products. Thus competitors the world over have been forced to respond to consumers‘ demand
for increasingly higher quality, more cost-competitive offerings.
E. Increased Global Competition: The pressures of increased foreign competition often
persuade firms to expand internationally in order to gain access to foreign opportunities and to
improve their overall operational flexibility and competitiveness.
F. Changing Political Situations: The transformation of the political and economic policies of
the former Soviet Union and the People‘s Republic of China has led to vast increases in trade
between those countries and the rest of the world. In addition, the improvements in national
infrastructure and the provision of trade-related services by governments the world over have
further led to substantial increases in foreign trade and investment levels.
G. Expanded Cross-National Cooperation: Governments have increasingly entered into cross-
national treaties and agreements in order to gain reciprocal advantages for their own firms, to
attack problems jointly that one country cannot solve alone, and to deal with areas of concern
that lie outside the territory of all countries. Often, such cooperation occurs within the
framework of international organizations such as the United Nations, the International Monetary
Fund, the World Trade Organization, and the International Bank for Reconstruction and
Development (World Bank).
Criticisms of Globalization
Anti globalization forces have protested both peacefully and violently as they press for
legislation and other means to stop or slow the globalization process. Issues of threats to
national sovereignty, increasing income inequality, and environmental harm are addressed in the
Point—Counterpoint sections found throughout the text.
A. Threats to National Sovereignty: Many citizens fear that a country‘s participation in
multilateral agreements will diminish its sovereignty and freedom from external control and
curtail its ability to act in its own best interests. In particular, people in small countries worry
that dependence on larger countries for sales and/or supplies, as well as the presence of large
international firms, will make them vulnerable to the demands of parties against which they are

13. essentially powerless. In addition, people the world over are concerned that globalization will
bring the homogenization of products and traditional ways of life—including language and social
structure.
B. Economic Growth: Clearly, economic growth can result in both positive and negative
consequences, including damage to society and the environment. While globalization can, in
fact, support the sustenance of natural resources and the maintenance of an environmentally
sound planet, unless the positive consequences of globalization keep pace with the negative costs
of economic growth, the sustainability of economic improvement on a worldwide basis will, at
best, be problematic.
C. Growing Income Inequality: Off shoring, the process of shifting domestic production to a
foreign country for the purpose of serving the home market at a reduced cost speeds up the
process of altering the relative economic discrepancies between the two countries involved.
Thus, even if the overall global gains from globalization are positive, there remains a continuing
challenge to bring about the positive gains in ways that minimize costs to the losers.
Process of Globalization
The process of Globalization originated as early as the 15th century with the evolution
of capitalism, and subsequently spread itself to different countries across the world. In fact, the
subjugation and exploitation of Third World countries like Latin America, Asia, Australia and
North American white colonial settlements and Africa can be cited as the examples where the
process of Globalization initially started.
From the initial stage, the process of Globalization had its roots in imperialism.
Economies opened up for accumulation in the First World countries at the cost of exploitation of
the Third World countries. At this stage, the nature of Globalization depended largely on the
mentalities of the imperialist rulers. It was essential for the rulers to create distinctions among

14. people on the basis of their social strata, This facilitated them to exploit these Third World
countries by extracting raw materials, labor forces, and manpower for meeting their
administrative and military requirements. This way, the richer countries continued to prosper
while the poor nations were pushed more towards poverty.
The second step of Globalization centered on inter-imperial commercial activities. The
mutual trade between the European nations, United States of America and of late, Japan formed
a series of groups on regional level, together with the governing powers. This gave birth to
cooperation and competitions in the commercial spheres, making the multinational corporations
struggle for gaining control over the market shares. They also joined hands to exploit the markets
of the Third World countries more effectively.
Foreign trade is an intrinsic part of Globalization. Exchanges of goods on an international
level are closely knitted with the various classes of the social hierarchy as well as the commercial
markets. It is this association which helps Globalization attains class character.
As far as the form of Globalization is concerned, it is essentially ―cyclic‖ in nature,
changing with various phases of national economic developments. In fact, Globalization derives
its ascending quality from the capital forces, which defeats the farmers, the labor class and small
political parties. This results in the conquest of states, where lifestyles are lowered and there is
promotion of export strategies.
The development of the concept of Globalization is closely associated with the beginning of
class conflict and the constriction of profits during the formation of 'welfare state'. In fact, the
process of Globalization is not a new phenomenon; Its historical cycle of rise, integration and
decline is an outcome of the socio-political scenario of a particular nation.
Drivers of Globalization
1. Declining Trade and Investment Barriers
International trade occurs when a firm exports goods orservices to consumers in another
country. Foreign direct investment occurs when a firm invests resources in business activities
outside its home country. Many of the barriers to international trade took the form of high tariffs
on imports of manufactured goods. The typical aim of such tariffs was to protect domestic
industries from "foreign competition." One consequence, however, was "beggar thy neighbor" retaliatory
trade policies with countries progressively raising trade barriers against eachother.
In addition to reducing trade barriers, many countries have also been progressively
removing restrictions to foreign direct investment .Such trends facilitate both the globalization of
markets and the globalization of production. The lowering ofbarriers to international trade enables firms
to view the world, rather than a single country, as their market. The lowering of trade
and investment barriers also allows firms to base production at the optimal location for that
activity, serving the world market from that location. Thus, a firm might design a product in one
country, produce component parts in two other countries, assemble the Finally, the globalization
of markets and production and the resulting growth of world trade, foreign direct investment, and

15. imports all imply that firms are finding their home markets under attack from foreign competitors. The
bottom line is that the growing integration of the world economy into a single, huge marketplace
is increasing the intensity of competition in a range of manufacturing and service industries.
Having said all this, declining trade barriers can't be taken for granted. As we shall see in
the following chapters, demands for "protection" from foreign competitors are still often heard
in countries around the world, including the United States.
2. The Role of Technological Change
Microprocessors and Telecommunications
Perhaps the single most important innovation has been development of the
microprocessor, which enabled the explosive growth of high-power, low-cost computing, vastly
increasing the amount of information that can be processed by individuals and firms. The
microprocessor also underlies many recent advances in telecommunications technology.
These technologies rely on the microprocessor to encode, transmit, and decode the vast amount
of information that flows along these electronic highways. The cost of microprocessors continues
to fall, while their power increases. As this happens, the costs of global communications
are plummeting, which lowers the costs of coordinating and controlling a global organization.
The Internet and World Wide Web
The phenomenal recent growth of the Internet and the associated World Wide Web is the latest
expression of this development. The Internet and World Wide Web (WWW) promise to develop
into the information backbone of tomorrow‘s global economy. Companies such as Dell Computer
are booking over $4 million a day in Web-based sales, while Internet equipment giant Cisco
Systems books more than$20 million per day in Web-based sales. Includedinthisexpandingvolumeof
Web-based electronic commerce--or e-commerce as it is commonly called--is a
growing percentageofcross-borderPackardhasnew-product development teams composed of
individuals based indifferent countries. When developing new products, these individuals use
videoconferencing to "meet" on a weekly basis. They also communicate with each other daily via
telephone, electronic mail, and fax. Communication technologies have enabled Hewlett-Packard
to increase the integration of its globally dispersed operations and to reduce the time needed fordeveloping
newproducts.
Implications for the Globalization of Markets
In addition to the globalization of production, technological innovations have
also facilitated the globalization of markets. As noted above, low-cost transportation has made it
more economical to ship products around the world, thereby helping to create global markets. Low-
cost global communications networks such as the World Wide Web are helping to create
electronic global marketplaces. In addition, low-cost jet travel has resulted in the
mass movement of people between countries. This has reduced the cultural distance between
countries and is bringing about some convergence of consumer tastes and preferences. At the
same time, global communications networks and global media are creating a worldwide culture.
We must be careful not to overemphasize this trend. While modern communications and

16. transportation technologies are ushering in the "global village," very significant national
differencesremaininculture,consumerpreferences,and business practices.
The Changing Demographics of the Global Economy
1. The Changing World Output and World Trade Picture
In the same occurred to Germany, France, and the United Kingdom, all nations that were among
the first to industrialize. This decline in the US position was not an absolute decline, since the
US economy grew at a relatively robust average annual rate of close. Rather, it was a
relative decline, reflecting the faster economic growth of several other economies, particularly in
Asia.
2. The Changing Foreign Direct Investment Picture
Reflecting the relative decline in US dominance, its position as the world's leading
exporter was threatened. Over the past thirty years, US dominance in export markets has waned
as Japan, Germany, and a number of newly industrialized countries such as South Korea and
China have taken a larger share of world exports. In 1997 and 1998 the dynamic economies of the Asian Pacific
region were hit by a serious financial crisis that threatened to slow their economic growth rates
for several years. Despite this, their powerful growth may continue over the long run, as will that
of several other important emerging economies in Latin America. Notwithstanding the financial
crisis that is gripping some Asian economies, most forecasts now predict a rapid rise intheshareof
world output accounted for by developing nations such as China. For international businesses, the
implications of this changing economic geography are clear; many of tomorrow's economic opportunities maybe
found in the developing nations of the world, and many of tomorrow's most capable competitors
will probably also emerge from these regions. However, as the barriers to the free flow of goods,
services, and capital fell, and as other countries increased their shares of world output, non-US
firms increasingly.
3. The Changing Nature of the Multinational Enterprise
A multinational enterprise is any business that has productive activities in two or more
countries.
Non-US Multinationals
Global business activity was dominated by large US multinational corporations. With US
firms accounting for about two-thirds of foreign direct investment one would expect most
multinationals to be US enterprises. The large number of US multinationals reflected US
economic dominance in the three decades after World War II, while the large number of British
multinationals reflected that country's industrial dominance in the early decades. Looking to the
future, we can reasonably expect growth of new multinational enterprises from the world‘s
developing nations. As the accompanying Country Focus demonstrates, South Korean firms are
starting to invest outside their national borders. The South Koreans may soon be followed by
firms from countries such as Mexico.

17. The Rise of Mini-Multinationals
Another trend in international business has been the growth of medium-sized and
small multinationals. When people think of international businesses they tend to think of firms
such as Exxon, General Motors… complex multinational corporations with operations that span
the globe. Although it is certainly true that most international trade and investment is
still conducted by large firms, it is also true that many medium-sized and small businesses are
becoming increasingly involved in international trade and investment. The point is, international
business is conducted not just by large firms but also by medium-sized and small enterprises.
4. The Changing World Order
Many of the former communist nations of Europe and Asia seem to share a commitment to
democratic politics and free market economics. If this continues, the opportunities
for international businesses may be enormous. For the best part of half a century, these countries
were essentially closed to Western international businesses. Now they present a host of export
and investment opportunities. The economies of most of the former communist states are in very poor
condition, and their continued commitment to democracy and free market economics cannot be taken for granted.
Disturbing signs of growing unrest and totalitarian tendencies are seen in many Eastern
European states. Thus, the risks involved in doing business in such countries are very high, but
then, so may be the returns. In sum, the last quarter of century has seen rapid changes in the global
economy. Barriers to the free flow of goods, services, and capital have been coming down. The
volume of cross-border trade and investment has been growing more rapidly than global output,
indicating that national economies are become more closely integrated into a single,
interdependent, global economic system. As their economies advance, more nations are joining
the ranks of the developed world. Thus, follow more permanent and widespread, the liberal vision of a
more prosperous global economy based on free market principles might not come to pass as quickly as
many hope. Clearly, this would be a tougher world for international businesses to compete in.
For now it is simply worth noting that even from a purely economic perspective, globalization
is not all good.
The Globalization Debate: Prosperity or Impoverishment?
People view globalization from sometimes vastly different perspectives.
A. Today’s Globalization in Context
1. First age of globalization extended from the mid-1800s to the 1920s. Migration levels reached
record highs, domestic workers faced competition from cheaper labor abroad, and trade and
capital flowed more freely than ever before. Drivers of that first age of globalization were the
steamship, telegraph, railroad, telephone, and airplane.
3. World War I, the Russian Revolution, and the Great Depression abruptly ended that first age
of globalization. Globalization backlash led to high tariffs and other barriers.
4. Geographic divide between East and West became an ideological divide between communism
and capitalism. International capital flows regained their prior pace not until the 1990s.

18. 5. Drivers of this second age of globalization are communication satellites, fiber optics,
microchips, and the Internet.
B. The Current Globalization Backlash
1. Protesters say the world does not fairly share fruits of globalization.
2. The violence began in Seattle, Washington, in December 1999 at a meeting of the World
Trade Organization, and reached a low point in July 2001 in Genoa, Italy, when one protestor
died.
3. Two key institutions in coverage of the debate.
a. The World Bank is an agency created to provide financing for national economic
development efforts.
b. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is an agency created to regulate fixed
exchange rates and enforce the rules of the international monetary system.
C. Globalization’s Impact on Jobs and Wages
1. Against: Globalization Costs Jobs and Lowers Wages
a. Eliminates jobs in developed nations as good-paying manufacturing jobs go abroad to
developing countries. Low-priced goods are not worth lost jobs.
b. Forces wages lower in developed countries by causing worker dislocation that lowers
wages. New jobs that replace lost manufacturing jobs often pay less.
c. International outsourcing exploits workers in developing nations that work cheaply
servicing western consumers.
d. Summary: although globalization eliminates jobs in some economic sectors, it creates
jobs in other sectors.
2. For: Globalization Creates Jobs and Boosts Wages
a. Raises overall wealth in developed and developing nations because trade openness
raises output. Firms grow more efficient and pass savings on to consumers.
b. Generates labor market flexibility that allows an economy to rapidly deploy labor
where demand is relatively great.
c. Creates jobs in developed nations as outsourcing lowers labor costs and firms instead
use capital to expand operations.
d. Advances developing nations‘ economies by injecting capital that creates higher-
paying jobs, which expands the middle class and raises standards of living.
e. Summary: gains to national economies are worth lost livelihoods that individuals may
suffer.
D. Globalization’s Impact on Labor and Environmental Regulation
1. Labor Standards
a. Trade unions claim that firms continually move to nations with low labor standards,
which reduces labor‘s bargaining power and forces overall labor standards lower.
b. But studies of developing nations‘ export processing zones instead find evidence that
contradicts such claims.
2. Environmental Protection
a. Globalization opponents say it creates a ―race to the bottom‖ in environmental
conditions and regulations: countries compete in reducing environmental protection laws.

19. b. But evidence shows pollution-intensive U.S. firms tend to invest in countries with
stricter environmental standards. Also, closed economies historically are the worst polluters.
3. Developing Future Markets
a. Protesters claim international firms pay locals the lowest possible wage and export
their goods back to the home country.
b. Today, firms want to build local markets in developing nations, not simply exploit
workers and foment local animosity.
E. Globalization and Income Inequality
1. Income Inequality within Nations
a. Globalization critics claim that income disparity in rich nations is increasing as firms
move factory jobs to poor nations.
b. Evidence is mixed, but poor people in developing nations seem to benefit from an open
economy.
2. Inequality between Nations
a. Globalization opponents say it is widening the gap in average incomes between rich
and poor nations.
b. Looking closely at the evidence, we see that open nations are benefiting from trade
while closed ones are not.
3. Global Inequality
a. Opponents of globalization say it is widening income inequality between all people of
the world.
b. Studies tend to agree that global inequality has fallen in recent decades, though they
disagree on the extent of the decline.
F. Globalization and National Sovereignty
1. Globalization: Menace to Democracy
a. Supranational institutions with international goals and appointed officials undermine
national sovereignty and democracy.
b. Elected officials undercut democracy and local and regional authority with ‗inter-
national‘ agreements on citizens‘ behalf.
2. Globalization: Guardian of Democracy
a. Globalization has helped spread democracy worldwide (e.g., more democratic nations
than ever).
b. Some losses of sovereignty have had positive social impacts, as in human rights,
workers‘ rights, and discrimination.
G. Globalization’s Impact on Cultures
1. Critics say globalization homogenizes our world and lets MNCs destroy cultural diversity and
wipe out small local businesses.
2. Yet globalization allows nations to:
(1) Specialize and trade for goods they do not produce,
(2) Import other peoples‘ cultural goods, and
(3) Still protect deeper moral and cultural norms.

20. Managing in the Global Marketplace
An international business is any firm that engages in international trade or investment.
A firm does not have to become a multinational enterprise, investing directly in operations in
other countries, to engage in international business, although multinational enterprises are
international businesses. As their organizations increasinglyengageincross-bordertradeand investment,
it means managers need to recognize that the task of managing an international business differs
from that of managing a purely domestic business in many ways. At the most fundamental level,
the differences arise from the simple fact that countries are different. Countries differ in their
cultures, political systems, economic systems, legal systems, and levels of economic
development. Despite all the talk about the emerging global village, and despite the trend toward
globalization of markets and production, as we shall see in this book, many of these differences are
veryprofoundandenduring.Differences between countries require that an international business vary
its practices country by country. A further way in which international business differs from
domestic business is the greater complexity of managing an international business. In addition to
the problems that arise from the differences between countries, a manager in an international
business is confrontedwitharangeofotherissuesthatthemanagerin a domestic business never confronts.
An international business must decide where in the world to site its production activities to
minimize costs and to maximize value added. Conducting business transactions across national
borders requires understanding the rules governing the international trading and investment
system. Managers in an international business must also deal with government restrictions on
international trade and investment. They must find ways to work within the limits imposed by
specific governmental interventions. As this book explains,eventhoughmanygovernmentsarenominally
committed to free trade, they often intervene to regulate cross-border trade and investment.
Managers within international businesses must develop strategies and policies for dealing
with such interventions. Cross-border transactions also require that money be converted from the
firm's home currency into a foreign currency and vice versa. Since currency exchange rates vary in
response to changing economic conditions, an international business must develop policies
for dealing with exchange rate movements. A firm that adopts a wrongpolicycanloselargeamountsof
money, while affirm that adopts the right policy can increase the profitability of its international
transactions.
Globalization -- The Balancing Act
Globalization is an extremely controversial issue for the modern world. It has become
increasingly important for the young adults of the world to fully understand what globalization is
and how it is affecting our cultures in order for them to form educated opinions. Globalization is
defined as the development of an increasingly integrated global economy marked especially by
free trade, free flow of capital, and the tapping of cheaper foreign labor markets. More and more
corporations are taking the world by storm in an attempt to insert themselves into our everyday
lives. Their reason for doing this is to not only make their nation feel dependent on their product,
but to make the rest of the world dependent as well. Most Americans do not take the time to
realize how dependent we are for these corporation's products. For example, 90% of all
Americans drink coffee. A large portion of those sales are made by the Starbucks Corporation.

21. Now with Starbuck's worldwide expansion, it has established itself in 40 different countries with
a yearly revenue of $10.383 billion USD (as of 2008). Another example of a worldwide
corporation is McDonalds fast food. McDonalds is the worlds largest fast food chain in the world
inhabiting 109 different countries and serving nearly 47 million customers every day. With
corporations like these becoming more powerful and influential in our everyday lives and in our
experiences of other cultures, globalization is a topic that must be broken down and defined for
the masses to understand its dramatic impact on modern society.
Economists who are in support of this process argue that utilizing the fundamental idea
that trade is good means that foreign trade through corporations is absolutely necessary. In
today‘s world, that has translated to corporations moving internationally in order to manipulate
the cheap work force in foreign countries. An example of this would be Nike, an American shoe
company, who originated in Oregon in 1970; however, most of Nike's shoe factories were found
in Southeast Asian countries like Indonesia, China, and, most recently, Vietnam. While trade of
cheap labor for more job opportunities seemed like a fair agreement, Nike's strive towards
industrialization at whatever means necessary has hurt the southeast countries in asia and has
compromised the credibility of the western modernized world. In this way, the benefits of
globalization do not outweigh the costs. On the other hand, critics of this modernization process
say that globalization is just an excuse for "Americanization" (the spreading of American culture
in an attempt to take over the world, more or less). While this has become a side effect of
globalization, I do not believe that globalization must result in America rising to power over all
other countries. We, as a planet, can unify through our trade and free market economies to make
a stronger, more cohesive world. We can integrate our cultures while protecting the tradition,
religion, and history of our origins. With these portrayals of the pros and cons of globalization, I
believe that it takes a steady balance of globalization and maintaining countries individuality in
order to help the world's economy while still keeping cultures free from "Americanization".
Bottom Line for Business
A. Harnessing the Benefits of Globalization
1. The most global nations tend to have the greatest equality, robust environmental protection,
inclusive political systems, lowest levels of corruption, healthiest lifestyles, and where women
have achieved the most social, educational, and economic progress.
2. The debate has opened a dialogue, moving from an argument of total stoppage versus the
belief that it is unstoppable, to how globalization can be harnessed to make its benefits exceed its
costs.
B. Globalization of Markets and Production
1. Continued globalization is taking companies into previously isolated markets and increasing
competitive pressures worldwide.
2. As it gets easier and less costly to manage widely dispersed marketing and production
activities, new opportunities and threats emerge.

22. C. Jobs, Wages, and Inequality
1. Low wages is not all that draws investment by multinationals. A location must offer low-cost,
adequately skilled workers in an environment with acceptable levels of social, political, and
economic stability.
2. Labor mobility is increasing with globalization depressing wages in some job categories but
developing new job opportunities in others.
D. The Policy Agenda
1. Rich nations could open their markets, slash agricultural subsidies, and increase development
aid. Poor nations could improve their investment climates, and improve social protection for the
poor.
2. Rich nations could offer workers their wage insurance, subsidized health insurance if out-of-
work, and improve education. Rich nations could help the ILO enforce labor standards, help
clarify environmental agreements, and research the environmental implications of trade
agreements.