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Economic globalization

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Economic globalization is the way countries around the world connect through trade. It involves the movement of goods, money, services, and new technology across borders. This process makes different national economies depend on each other.

Globalization over 5 centuries, OWID
Globalization over 5 centuries, OWID

It also includes the movement of people and information. This large system is one of three main parts of globalization. The other parts are political and cultural globalization. Today, many businesses rely on these global links to function.

This global system works through complex networks called supply chains. A supply chain is the path a product takes from its start to the customer. It involves many people, activities, and resources to move goods. Companies use these chains to find the best ways to make things. They might move production to areas where costs are lower. This helps them manage how they handle and distribute products worldwide.

These networks allow for the rapid expansion of global trade.

Trading has been part of human history for a very long time. As early as 6500 BCE, people in Syria traded tools and livestock. In the ancient land of Sumer, people used tokens as a type of money. Later, capital markets grew as industries needed more resources. Trade slowed during World War I because of new trade barriers. However, the invention of containerized shipping in 1956 helped trade grow again. This invention made it much cheaper to move items on large ships.

Rules and organizations help guide how countries trade with one another. The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade began in 1947. This eventually led to the creation of the World Trade Organization in 1994. By then, the organization included 128 different countries.

Newest one growth rate
Newest one growth rate

Other groups like the World Bank also help with economic questions. In 1986, the London Stock Exchange changed its rules during an event called the Big Bang. These changes helped connect markets all around the world.

Globalization has many different effects on people and the planet. It has helped many people move out of poverty. For example, the poorest people in Malaysia saw their income grow by 5.4 percent each year. In China, the number of people living in poverty dropped from 20 percent to 15 percent.

Berg Ostry 2011 Chart 4
Berg Ostry 2011 Chart 4

However, there are also hard challenges to face. Some companies move to places with fewer rules to save money. This can lead to pollution or poor working conditions. In Bangladesh, a factory collapse caused many deaths, but the country has since worked to improve safety rules.

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🖼️ Images & Media (6)
File:Globalization over 5 centuries, OWID.svg
Globalization over 5 centuries, OWID.svg
File:Newest one growth rate.png
Newest one growth rate.png
File:Argentina trade chart.svg
Argentina trade chart.svg
File:Berg Ostry 2011 Chart 4.gif
Berg Ostry 2011 Chart 4.gif
Water, energy and land insecurity in...
File:US corporate profits and business investment.png
US corporate profits and business investment.png
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