Human - Global systems and governance Flashcards
Define Globalisation.
The increasing connections between places and people across the planet.
Connections are established through trade, politics and cultural changes.
Helped by technology and transport…
What are the 5 FACTORS in globalisation?
1) New Technologies, communications and information systems
2) Global financial institutions
3) Transport systems
4) Security
5) Trade agreements
How is technology a factor in globalisation?
Communications have improved so that ideas can be transferred
How are global financial institutions a factor in globalisation?
- Flow of economic commodities
- Labour flows to areas experiencing economic growth
How are transport systems a factor in globalisation?
- Multiple modes of transport connect many parts of the world
- Labour (people) and goods can be moved over great distances
What is time-space compression?
The ‘compression’ of distances because travel times have decreased
Who theorised tine-space compression?
David Harvey
How is security a factor in globalisation?
- Borders are more fluid
- Cyber security, costing the UK £1.5 million / year
How are trade agreements a factor in globalisation?
- Allows for economic growth with competative advantages
- WTO has facilitated this since est 1994
How many pages are there in the WTO agreement?
26000!
What proportion of world trade does the WTO oversee?
97%
What are the 3 dimensions of globalistion?
1) Economic
2) Cultural/Social
3) Political
What is an additional (4th) dimension of globalisation which has emerged more recently?
Environmental
What are ‘dimensions of globalisation’ also called?
Forms of globalistaion
In what ways is there an economic dimension of globalisation?
- More free trade
- More TNCs
- Fast+cheap transport
In what ways is there a cultural dimension of globalisation?
- Migration (facilitated by transport)
- Impacts of media
In what ways is there a Political dimension of globalisation?
- Western democracies exerting more power in developing countries
- Fall of USSR, more free market economies
How can globalisation be measured?
With the KOF system
When was the KOF system established? How often is it used?
2002
Measured every year
How does the KOF system measure globalisation?
Monitors and quantifies globalisation, focusing on economic, social and political factors
Define dimensions of globalisation.
Changes occurring (distance, depth and velocity)
What is Disneyfication?
The cultural elements of Disney (or other media) can be witnessed worldwide
State 2 ‘bad’ outcomes of globalisation.
1) Outsourcing of industries to Asian countries
2) Some languages have dies out and cultures are abandoned by younger generatioons
State 2 ‘good’ outcomes of globalisation.
1) UN peacekeeping missions and ratification of states
2) Glocalisation is combating globalisation
What is the global standard?
The ability of info to be distributed worldwide with technology. Information can be distributed in real-time
What exemplifies the global standard?
The cost of telephone calls between London and NY falling by 99% since 1930
By how much have international exports increased by in the last 60 years?
A 30-fold increase
How much has Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) increased since 1970?
$13 Billion 1970
$1.8 trillion today
How many multinational corporations are there?
Over 70,000 - 10X the number 30 years ago
What does ‘McWorld’ mean?
The effect of western culture becoming increasingly dominant, destroying cultural diversity
What is counter-globalisation?
The backlash against globalisation (in a variety of countries). People try to return to local and regional traditions
What countries have not benefited from globalisation?
Sub-Saharan African countries becoming undercut by foreign goods
What countries have benefited from globalisation?
Developed countries with manufacturing competition from NICs
What 3 things have made it possible for companies to sell worldwide?
1) New technologies
2) Decreasing transportation costs
3) Liberalisation of international trade
Why has politics been affected by globalisation?
International issues are not affected by borders, such as climate change, finance and terrorism.
Requires collective support
Name the 5 flows.
1) Flows of products
2) Flows of Capital
3) Flows of services
4) Flows of information
5) Flows of labour
What is the “core-periphery model”? Who developed it?
The idea that there was a flow of capital between “core” western countries and a “periphery”, LEDCs
Developed by Willerstein
Why is the “core-periphery model” outdated?
BRIC and MINT countries and other NEEs means that there is a continuum of development
What are the BRIC(S) countries?
Brazil, Russia, India, China (and recently South Africa)
What are the MINT countries?
Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria, Turkey
When were the MINT countries established?
Est. 1990
What links the flows of labour and capital?
Remittances
Also trading blocs
Why does labour flow less easily than finance?
Physical restrictions are in place on movement (immigration restrictions)
Where is the majority of movement of labour taking place (think scale and time)?
Majority is WITHIN countries
What are remittances?
Payments sent home by economic migrants from a ‘host nation’ to a ‘source nation’
How important are remittances for some countries?
Very…
40% of GDP in Tajikistan and Somalia comes from remittances
How can remittances can benefit host countries?
50% of workers in Qatar are migrants - reinforcing host nation economies
Were remittances affected by the 2008 recession?
Not really, certainly less so than FDI. This is a major benefit
What are the 3 benefits of remittances?
1) Supports host nation economies
2) Supports source nation economies
3) Boosts regional economies
How can remittances cause divides within countries or regions?
‘Brian Drains’ such as the North-South divide in the UK
How can an over-reliance of remittances negatively-impact source countries?
Family members of those working abroad stop working
Why do remittances sometimes not work (-VE)?
Banks in host nations may block the flow of capital back to source countries.
This has occurred with terrorism in Somalia
What are economies of scale?
- A cost-saving strategy adopted by TNCs and large companies.
- The cost is spread out by having larger factories with larger outputs
What is marketing?
The process of promoting, advertising and selling products or services
What is global marketing?
What occurs when a company becomes a global marketer - viewing the world as one single market
How does global marketing occur? (4 points)
- A brand is chosen
- Some products sold in the same way worldwide
- Creates economies of scale
- The product is adapted to suit regional market places
Give an example of a company which does global marketing. In what ways does it do this?
Coca Cola
Same product is sold but in different sizes depending on regulations in place
What is glocalisation?
When goods are produced for local markets by adapting products or branding used
What is an example of glocalisation?
Walmart in China - stores in Shenzhen sell more vegetables and chicken feet, unlike in the USA
How many Walmart stores are there worldwide?
11,000
What percentage of products sold in Walmart China come from China?
85% from >14,000 Chinese suppliers
Where does labour flow between?
From S. Asia, Africa and Latin America to N. America and the EU
Also oil-rich Gulf states too due to construction industry booming there
Where is the majority of labour moving?
Within countries or regions (small scale)
Are migrants poor?
No. Often have some education and financial means
Between 2005 and 2010, how many workers moved from South Asia to West Asia?
5 million
The majority of immigration is from LEDCs to MEDCs. Why, therefore do some people migrate from HEDCs to LEDCs? (3 points)
- Sometimes there are job opportunities in NEEs
- Jobs may suit an individual’s profession
- More opportunities in trade and finance
How is the flow of products facilitated?
Trade costs are reduced
What 3 methods can be used to reduce trade costs in order to increase the flow of products/
1) Improve data flows to reduce transaction costs
2) Reduce transport + time costs, CONTAINERISATION
3) Lower tariffs (WTO)
What is the flow of services?
Economic activities which are traded without the production of material goods.
Includes financial and insurance services
How are flows of services subdivided?
- High-level services to business in HICs
- Low-level services to consumers such as Banking and tourism
What does the flow of services depend on?
Depends on:
- Communication
- Information transfers (flows of info…)
- Existing ties, such as call centres in India
Why are service-sector companies ‘footloose’?
They can locate anywhere - not confined by resources or factories
What is the flow of information?
The spread of data and communications transfers
What has the flow of information enabled in the last 50 years?
- The transfer of cultural ideas and language
- Improvements to Research and Development (R&D) for service-sector companies
In 2002 where did the majority of GDP flow between?
USA and EU (a bit to East Asia)
Just 1% of GDP
What has happened to the flow of GDP since 2002? (3 points)
- Proportion of global GDP being transferred has decreased
- Absolute value of GDP flows between US and EU has increased
- More flows established, more interconnectedness
How much ‘wider’ are data bandwidths now compared to 2005?
Much higher. In 2005 500-1000 gigabits/s now >20,000 between US and EU
Name 3 inequalities in the global export of goods and services.
1) Majority performed by HICs >60%
2) 30x more trade by HICs than Sub-Saharan African countries
3) HICs have 47% more regional purchasing power than Africa
What is Capital?
Money
What are ‘core areas’?
Economically important areas, attracting investment, capital and people (HEDCs)
What are ‘periphery areas’?
Poorer areas experiencing exploitation, economic leakage and out migration (LEDCs)
What is aid?
Money provided to countries or regions for support or help. Can be given directly (money) or indirectly (infrastructure)
What is FDI?
Foreign Direct Investment made by overseas governments, businesses or individuals (agents of change in globalisation… CP!)
What is repatriation of profits?
Capital sent back to HQs from host countries by TNCs .
AKA ECONOMIC LEAKAGE
How many containers are there in the world?
17 million
How much pollution from ships takes place in the northern hemisphere?
85%
What percentage of climate change has been attributed to shipping?
4%
What method of transporting goods was used prior to containers?
Goods were loaded off lorries/trains onto ships piece-by-piece
Why has containerisation been so efficient?
- Consistent: All containers are the same size
- Flexibility with boats, lorries and trains all compatible
- Goods are secured, less chance of theft/sabotage
How much faster is the transportation of goods with containers?
1.75 times faster
What 4 factors affect the locations of container ports?
1) Access to road and rail infrastructure
2) Other infrastructure such as cranes and warehouses
3) Deep, wide harbours
4) Proximity to industries the goods are exported to
What percentage of container traffic originates in China?
26%
What percentage of containers are made China?
97%
In what ways are containers connected to globalisation?
Containers are both a cause and (increasingly) an effect of globalisation
(The ‘effect’ is due to production more in China)
Who invented containers?
US truck driver Malcom McLean
When were containers first used?
1956
What are the 2 standard sizes of container?
20ft and 40ft
Name a port that has been redesigned to allow for containers to be used.
Liverpool
How many containers does Felixstowe handle each year?
2 million
What are containers measured in?
TEU: Twenty-foot equivalent unit
Why is Felixstowe the UK’s main container port?
- Close to London with good road + rail links
- Deep harbor
In what form does the majority of the UK’s trade with the EU take?
ro-ro ferries to Dover, Harwich and Portsmouth (46% trade)
What are the dimensions of the largest container ships?
ULTRA LARGE CONTAINER VESSELS:
- 400m long
- Capacity for 15,000 TEUs
What is a major obstacle to container trade on Ultra Large Container Vessels (ULCVs)?
The Panama canal
What is the maximum-sized ship used on the Panama canal?
5,000 TEU
Why is the container ‘bottleneck’ of the Panama particularly concerning?
The large lakes along the canal are drying up more frequently due to climate change and water exploitation
What is being done to widen the Panama canal?
Some sections are being widened in a $5 billion project which will allow Ultra Large Container Vessels (ULCVs) to use it
What fuel do large ships use? Why is this bad?
‘Bunker fuel’ is used, very viscous and produces 2000x more Sulphur than car diesel
What is London Gateway (CONTAINERISATION)?
A new port facility on the northern bank of the Thames on the site of an old oil refinery
Who funded the London Gateway port?
Dubai Ports World, a UAE company
How many deep-water berths will the London Gateway provide for large container vessels?
6 deep-water berths, a capacity of 3.5 million TEUs
Why is the London Gateway container port appropriately positioned?
- It has access to north, south east and west routes via 8-lane motorway
- 30% of port traffic will go by rail to destinations
What is the new container port being built at Liverpool called?
Liverpool2
How many trips a year do containers make?
200 million
What percentage of container ship pollution is within 400km of land?
70%
What is the busiest container port in the world? How many TEUs did it handle in 2012?
Shanghai
Handled 34,500,000 TEUs (Twenty-foot equivalent units) in 2012
What is the difference between ‘ro-ro’ and ‘lo-lo’ shipping?
‘ro-ro’ = Roll on and off (lorries at Dover)
‘lo-lo’ = Loaded on and off by cranes (Felixstowe)
What is the international division of labour?
How labour has become divided internationally due to globalisation into SKILLED and UNSKILLED workers
What are NICs?
Newly Industrialised countries, such as Tiger economies, BRIC and MINT countries
What are the tiger economies?
Hong Kong
Singapore
South Korea
Taiwan
Where was the majority of manufacturing in the 1950s?
In Western Europe, USA and Japan (95%)
What is the global shift (changes in patterns of manufacturing)?
The movement of manufacturing sectors to NICs in Asia by TNCs because of low labour and land costs
What is a major disadvantage of the ‘global shift’?
- Deindustrialisation in MEDCs
- Structural unemployment
- 50% of manufacturing jobs in the UK have been lost since 1983
Why did deindustrialisation occur in MEDCs?
The GLOBAL SHIFT caused Asian-produced products to be much cheaper than domestic products, undercutting them
What 4 factors affect the locations of industries?
1) Skilled + educated workforces
2) Land, resources and infrastructure
3) Government incentives (Tax breaks)
4) Access to large markets (trade agreements)
What region used to be the main ‘consumers’?
Wealthy citizens in the developed world
How has consumption changed?
More NICs are also consuming
What will happen to consumption in the future?
More consumption in Asia, so more products flowing within the region
What is international trade?
The exchange of capital, goods and services across intl borders
Name 3 advantages of intl trade.
1) Increased employment due to multiplier effect in NICs
2) Comparative advantages
3) Purchasing power due to more competition (race to the bottom)
What is purchasing power?
The increased ability to afford commodities, occurring due to competition to lower prices
Name 3 disadvantages of intl trade.
1) Loss of skilled labour
2) Product dumping
3) Exploitative labour
What is product dumping?
When a product is sold in a foreign market at a very low price
Give an example of a location which has benefited from intl trade.
Songxia, China
AKA Umbrella city
What percentage of umbrellas are made in China?
70%