Globalization refers to the increasing share of economic activity that crosses national borders. Transnational corporations operate across many countries and can shift production between nations for cheaper costs. This global distribution of labor promotes the use of English as a common language for business. However, globalization is not creating monopolies and other world languages may still develop as lingua francas. It affects labor practices worldwide and more jobs now require English competency. While globalization impacts economies, politics and cultures, it also creates tensions between global and local forces.