4.2 trade (globalisation) Flashcards
what is globalisation?
the economic integration of countries due to increasing movement of people, finance, technology and goods/services
what are the key features of globalisation:
-multicultural society
-goods and services traded throughout the world
-collaboration between countries
-economic interdependency
-the flow of capital between countries
what are the factors contributing to increased globalisation?
-trade liberalisation
-political change
-reduced cost of transport and communication
-increased significance of global (transnational) companies
-increased investment flows (FDI)
-migration
-growth of the global labour force
-structural change
what is trade liberalisation?
the removal or reduction of barriers to trade between different countries
benefits of trade liberalisation:
increased international trade allows businesses to increase their market size
↳ this leads to increased output and countries can benefit from economies of scale
helps businesses to reduce costs as imported raw materials and components can be sourced more cheaply
drawbacks of trade liberalisation:
-domestic firms, in particular, Infant industries may not be able to compete against international firms
-some industries may be subject to dumping as businesses abroad may sell excess products at unfairly low prices
what is political change?
changes in the government of a country can influence the country’s attitude to trade / political reform and political stability have given rise to democracy across the world and better trade relations between countries
what is reduced cost of transport and communication?
technological advancements due to the internet/mobile technology have improved made it easier for buyers and sellers to connect with one another
what is increased significance of transnational companies?
-a transnational company is a business that operates in more than one country
-they will have their headquarters in one country but have other branches in other countries
-with increasing numbers of transnational companies operating globally, there is an increased pressure by countries to engage in free trade
increased investment flows (FDI):
-FDI is important for job and wealth creation within an economy
-it allows businesses to establish themselves in countries where they may face trade barriers
migration (between and within economies):
-migration is the movement of people from one location to another
-migration has led to increased globalisation as better transportation and deregulation have allowed workers to have more flexibility when looking for work
-migration leads to cultures being imported and therefore the demand for new products but migrants often send a proportion of the money they
growth of the global labour force:
-the global labour force has grown significantly especially due to the growth of emerging economies
this has increased globalisation due to…
-more people in work means more income to spend on goods and services boosting global demand
structural change:
occurs when a country, industry or market changes which sector of industry they operate in
(eg: the UK has shifted from the manufacturing sector to the tertiary sector over the last 50 years)
what is protectionism?
when a government seeks to protect domestic industries from foreign competition
how will the government impose protectionist policies?
legislation, taxation and spending
benefits of free trade:
-provides growth opportunities for home nations as international markets become accessible and profitable
-nations can exploit the advantages other countries possess to produce certain goods and services more efficiently than others → goods and services become more accessible, they also become cheaper
-free trade may allow businesses to access components, raw materials and finished goods far cheaper than they could do otherwise
methods of protectionism:
-tariffs
-import quotas
other trade barriers:
-government legislation
-domestic subsidies
what is a tariff?
taxes on imports that increase the price of imported goods helps to shift demand for that product/service from foreign businesses to domestic businesses
benefits of tariffs:
-they protect infant industries so they can eventually become more competitive globally
-increases government tax revenue
-reduces dumping by foreign businesses (they cannot sell below the market price)
disadvantages of tariffs:
-increases the cost of imported raw materials which may affect businesses who use these goods for production, leading to higher prices for consumers
-reduces competition for domestic firms
-reduces consumer choice as imports are now more expensive and some customers will be unable to afford them
EXAM TIP: what are tariffs?
-it is not the foreign company, but the domestic company who pays the tariff
-in our cheese example above, any retailers in the USA who import cheese from britain have to pay the tariff when it crosses the border into the USA
-this policy may help cheese manufacturers in the USA but it harms any other business that imports and sells foreign cheese as it raises their costs of production
what is an import quota?
a government imposed limit on the amount of a particular product allowed into the country
what is the purpose of quotas?
restricting the physical amount of imports means that domestic businesses face less competition but benefit from a higher market share