Globalization
What is it and how does it affect us?
Analysis
What is Globalization?
Examples:
- Culture - Music from America is exported to countries around the world.
- Technology - Headphones developed in Japan are shipped to America.
- Environment - American factories in east Asia pollute the air and produce smog.
- Economy - China and America depend on each other for trade.
How Geography Contributes
How do the natural features of the earth affect peoples' lives?
Example: Paper factories may be located near forests, and as a result, workers at the factories may wish to live near the forests to be close to work.
How Do They Live
Example: People in colder climates will spend more money on winter clothes than people in warmer, more tropical climates will.
Why There
Example: Snowboarders and skiiers may want to live near snow so that they can practice their sport.
The Claim
As the examples above show, globalization can both benefit and harm society. While globalization is responsible for amazing leaps in technology, it is also responsible for increased pollution and poor working conditions for overseas workers. For more examples of the pros and cons of globalization, however, continue below.
Technology
Environment
Culture
The Pros and Cons of Globalization
- Cheaper production costs overseas
- Resources become available year round
- Opportunities arise for workers in third world countries
- People are more educated about others' cultures
- Better/More efficient technology
Cons:
- Workers are sometimes taken advantage of
- Less jobs for American workers
- Corporations profit more than workers
- Consumers know less about where their products come from
- GMOs in food
Application
The Product - BIC Cristal Pen
- Stainless Steel
- Tungsten
- Kerosene
Where the materials come from:
- Stainless Steel - Cleveland (Ohio), Brazil, China
- Tungsten - China
- Kerosene - Russia
Where the factories are located:
- Mexico
- Florida, USA
- France
- Beijing, China
Where the markets are located:
- Denver (Colorado)
- England
- Spain
- Japan
Anhui, China
Tungsten Production
Florida (USA), Mexico, France, and China
Problems with BIC
China already has an alarming amount of smog and air pollution. By placing another factory in China, BIC is contributing to this detrimental issue.
Technological
Kerosene from Russia has to be shipped all the way to Mexico and the United States. Doing so requires tedious methods of shipping by either a plane or a boat.
Cultural
Workers in Mexico and China are likely not making as much as workers in the United States and France despite doing the same amount of work.
Economic
Shipping goods from all over the world to various factory locations and then to markets is undoubtedly costly.
Solutions?
Implementing a minumum wage in impoverished countries where BIC's factories are located would discourage lower wages for workers in those countries. BIC could even implement this minimum wage in its own factories regardless of the country, should the country not have a minimum wage. This would create high demand for jobs at BIC and would create an incentive for more efficient work.
Transfer
How Does Globalization Affect Us?
From the products I use daily to the technology I am using right now, globalization is all around me. My backpack is from China, my pencils from Taiwan. Yet, most of the time, I am ignorant of where these products come from. They have been invented in some country as a result of a cultural necessity, made from resources in another country, transported to yet another, manufactured, and then finally, paid for by me. In each country, cultural, environmental, economical, and technological factors play a role in the production of the good. Even I play a role. I am a consumer and an unkowing participator in globalization. Except, now I do know the role I play.
Personal Relation to Geography:
My family and I moved to New Hampshire from Florida roughly two years ago. Our reason for doing so dealt largely with Geography and climate. We were tired of the heat and humidity that constantly plagued Florida. It was tiring and we desired a change. Therefore we sought out New Hampshire, whose climate was much cooler and drier. We relocated as a result.
Future Generations:
I expect that in the future, globalization will have become much more prominent than it is already. Culturally, I suspect that many countries will merge together. Already, we have found that our societies are very similar. Through better technology that will advance communication, they will most likely become even more similar. I hope that environmentally, globalization will provide a platform for environmental reform in regards to climate change. Hopefully, technology will again prove to be beneficial for this endeavor. Lastly, I hope that in the future, corporations pay workers more and profit less.