Going Global 1.4.3 Flashcards
Enquiry Question: How far does globalisation produce winners and losers, switched on and switched off places?
How have global consumers benefitted from globalisation?
Access to a wider range of goods at lower prices due to outsourcing and efficient global supply chains.
What role do global brands play in the consumer benefits of globalisation?
They offer familiarity, consistency, and convenience across borders, often at competitive prices.
Why do anti-globalisation groups criticise the spread of global brands?
They argue it leads to cultural erosion, exploitation of workers, and environmental degradation.
Give an example of cultural erosion caused by globalisation.
Traditional food or languages being replaced by global fast-food chains or dominant languages like English.
How can TNCs create uneven benefits across countries?
Headquarters and profits often stay in developed countries, while manufacturing occurs in lower-wage nations.
What is the “global shift” and who has benefited from it most?
The movement of industry to Asia; Asia has gained jobs, infrastructure, and increased development.
What is deindustrialisation?
The decline of manufacturing industries in a region, usually due to outsourcing.
Name two social impacts of deindustrialisation in developed countries.
Unemployment and increased crime rates.
What environmental issues can follow economic restructuring?
Dereliction, contamination of land and water, and abandoned infrastructure.
Give an example of a deindustrialised city in the developed world.
Detroit, USA or Glasgow, UK.
Why does economic restructuring create regional inequality?
Some regions lose jobs and investment, while others gain from new economic activities.
What is a “switched-off” place?
A location poorly connected to global flows of trade, capital, and information.
Give three reasons a country may be switched off.
Physical (landlocked, poor land), political (conflict, corruption), cultural (closed to foreign influence)
Why are landlocked countries often less globalised?
They depend on neighbours for access to global trade routes, increasing costs and barriers.
What does “switched-on” mean in the context of globalisation?
Places with strong global connections through transport, communication, and trade.
Why are megacities like Shanghai considered switched-on?
They have ports, airports, infrastructure, and attract TNCs and migrants.
How does digital infrastructure influence a country’s global connectivity?
Strong internet and mobile access allow participation in global information flows and digital trade.
What is meant by “disproportionate benefit” in globalisation?
Some places gain far more economically and socially from global flows than others.
Give an example of a global hub and explain its role.
London – a financial and cultural centre with high FDI, strong transport links, and diverse populations.
Why do TNCs favour some locations over others?
Due to skilled labour, good infrastructure, favourable regulations, and access to markets.
What are some characteristics of highly connected cities?
Major transport hubs, diverse population, international business presence, and innovation sectors.
How does FDI create inequality within countries?
It often benefits urban areas more than rural ones, increasing regional disparities.
Why do some people within globalised countries still feel like “losers”?
Job losses, low wages, or cultural displacement despite overall national gains.
What is meant by the “economic centre of gravity” shifting to Asia?
A growing share of global trade and production now occurs in Asia due to industrialisation.
How has China benefitted from globalisation?
Rapid economic growth, infrastructure development, and increased global influence.
How has India’s economy changed due to globalisation?
Growth in IT, services, and manufacturing sectors, with rising middle class incomes.
What challenges do Asian countries still face despite economic gains?
Pollution, inequality, infrastructure gaps, and dependence on foreign markets.
How does globalisation contribute to global carbon emissions?
Through increased transportation, energy-intensive industries, and higher consumption.
What are the local environmental impacts of manufacturing in emerging economies?
Air and water pollution, poor waste management, and soil degradation.
Why are outsourcing locations especially affected by environmental degradation?
TNCs often choose locations with weaker environmental laws to reduce costs.
What is the link between trade and pollution?
Increased trade results in more freight transport, which emits carbon and particulate matter.
How can global brands worsen local environmental problems?
By encouraging mass production, overuse of resources, and waste through fast consumer cycles.
Can a country be both a winner and a loser in globalisation? Explain.
Yes; a country may gain economically but suffer socially or environmentally in certain regions.
How do globalisation’s benefits and costs vary within countries?
Urban areas often gain more than rural ones; wealthier groups benefit more than the poor.
What policies can help ensure globalisation is more inclusive?
Investment in education, infrastructure, social protection, and fair trade policies.
