LABOUR TRANSNATIONALISM AND THE GIG ECONOMY

Question 1

Globalization and Corporate Capitalism

Answer 1

• Globalization is often synonymous with economic globalization, specifically the spread of corporate capitalism worldwide.
• Debates about globalization often revolve around the impact of transnational corporations on societies globally.

Question 2

Complexity of Economic Globalization:

Answer 2

• Economic globalization involves more than just the rise of transnational corporations; it encompasses culture, communications, political changes, and various economic aspects.
• The globalization of manufacturing, distribution, ownership, control of goods and services, and financial instruments leads to a transformation in global business practices.

Question 3

Changing Nature of Economic Activities:

Answer 3

• Traditional manufacturing models have evolved into complex, globalized arrangements where companies may operate without owning factories and outsource production to different countries based on cost considerations.

Question 4

5. Challenges in Labor and Environmental Standards:

Answer 4

• The globalization of production raises concerns about labor standards, minimum wages, worker safety, and environmental protection.
• Few international agencies effectively monitor and enforce these standards, leading to issues of accountability and control.

Question 5

Protests and Transnational Social Movements

Answer 5

• Public dissatisfaction with issues like sweatshops and environmental degradation has led to protests, particularly at WTO meetings.
• Transnational social movements aim to mobilize consumers and establish international standards through organizations like the United Nations.

Question 6

Outsourcing

Answer 6

7. Outsourcing and Global Commodity Chains:
   * Outsourcing involves firms using external vendors for business functions.
   * Global commodity chains, including supply chains and commodity chains, play a crucial role in global outsourcing.
8. Changing Forms of Outsourcing:
   * Outsourcing has evolved from producer-driven commodity chains to buyer-driven commodity chains, where large retailers and brands outsource production globally.
9. Upgrading in Outsourcing:
   * Upgrading occurs when firms move from manufacturing components to designing products, engaging in full-package production, or shifting to more technologically complex products.

Question 7

Defense and Critique of Globalization

Answer 7

• Economists like Jagdish Bhagwati defend globalization, seeing it as a natural outcome of technological and political circumstances.
• Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz, while acknowledging the positive aspects, emphasizes the negative impact of globalization and calls for reforms in international institutions.