Key Factors of Globalization

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Globalization is a very ambiguous term. The main perspective of globalization is that economic, social and cultural connections occur between countries in which businesses exploit the small number of trade barriers. (Das, 2010. p.66). Globalization has been criticised for being a major contributor to the environmental problems and resource shortages we find ourselves in today. This essay will look at five important key drivers of globalization over the last twenty years: decreasing trade and investment barriers, improvements in technology, lower costs, markets and competition between companies. Foreign direct investment will be discussed within these drivers. This essay will analyse why the drivers are having such an effect on globalization and also look at the negative impacts they are having. A major contributor to globalization is the decrease in trade and investment barriers. The General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs (GATT) played a key part in the early 1990's. The Uruguay round which took place from 1986 to 1993 was seen as their most ambitious trading round out of the eight which took place. (BBC, 2011). During this period of negotiations it led to the formation of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). The WTO has now taken responsibility of trade between countries and ensures that trade flows easily and without restraint. (WTO, 2011). Within the last twenty years of GATT and WTO there have been many cutbacks to the amount of trade and investment barriers. With the reduction to these barriers it has meant that globalization can happen faster, more easily and at a lower cost. For example, average tariff rates have decreased in France. In 1990 as a percentage their tariff rate was 5.9% and in 2008 it had reduced to 3.9%. (Hill, 2010, p.12). This means businesses are now paying less tax on their imports. Governments have also implemented subsidies for farmers
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