Globalisation Facts Supporting globalization India cut its poverty rate in half in the past two decades.

es. In Uganda poverty fell 40% during the 1990s and school enrollments doubled. In China, between 1990 and 2005, poverty rates in the country fell from 60% to 16%, leaving 475 million fewer people in poverty. The 3 billion people living in the 24 developing countries that became more globalised enjoyed an average 5% growth rate in income per capita. Improved wealth through the economic gains of globlisation has led to improved access to health care and clean water which has increased life expectancy. More than 85 percent of the world's population can expect to live for at least sixty years (that's twice as long as the average life expectancy 100 years ago!) Improved technology has dramatically reduced costs and prices changing the way the world communicates, learns, does business and treats illnesses. Between 1990 and 1999, adult illiteracy rates in developing countries fell from 35% to 29%. Cheaper imports make a wider range of products accessible to more people. International migration has led to greater recognition of diversity and respect for cultural identities which is improving democracy and access to human rights. Improved environmental awareness and accountability has encouraged the use of more efficient, less-polluting technologies around the world. Modern communications and the global spread of information have contributed to the toppling of undemocratic regimes. Not supporting globalisation Global income is more than $31 trillion a year, but 1.2 billion people of the world's population still earn less than $1 a day. 80% of the global population earns only 20% of global income. Within many countries there is a large gap between rich and poor. In 2002, there were 364 people per 1000 using the internet in high income countries, while there were only 10 per 1000 in low income countries. Increased trade and travel have facilitated the spread of human, animal and plant diseases, like HIV/AIDS, SARS and bird flu, across borders. The environment has been harmed as agricultural, forest, mining and fishing industries exploit inadequate environmental codes and corrupt behaviour in developing countries. Globalised competition can force a race to the bottom, where countries compete to have the lowest wage rates and labour standards in order to attract Transnational Corporations. Globalisation can foster a brain drain of skilled workers, where highly educated and qualified professionals, such as doctors, engineers and IT specialists, migrate to developed countries to benefit from the higher wages and greater career and lifestyle prospects. This creates severe skilled labour shortages in developing countries. Modern communications have spread an awareness of the differences between countries, and increased the demand for migration to richer countries. Due to increased migration, richer countries have tightened the barriers against migrant workers. Xenophobic fears have increased. (Xenophobia is an unreasonable fear of foreigners or strangers.)

Supporting globalisation Globalisation has bolstered peace as countries are unlikely to enter conflict with trading partners. Poverty reduction from globalization helps reduce the breeding ground for terrorism. Wages paid by transnational corporations in middle- and low-income countries are on average 1.8 to 2.0 times the average wages in those countries. Investment by transnational corporations help countries by providing new jobs and skills for local people. Transnational corporations bring wealth and foreign currency to local economies when they buy local resources, products and services. The extra money created by this investment can be spent on education, health and infrastructure. People can experience foods and other products not previously available in their countries. Globalisation increases awareness of events in far-away parts of the world. For example, the UK was quickly made aware of the 2004 tsunami tidal wave and sent help rapidly in response. Globalisation may help to make people more aware of global issues such as deforestation and global warming - and alert them to the need for sustainable development.

Not supporting globalisaton People smugglers have exploited vulnerable people who wish to move to a richer country but can only do so illegally. The increasing interdependence of countries in a globalised world makes them more vulnerable to economic problems like the current financial crisis in the E.U. The role of LEDCs in the world market is mostly to provide the North and West with cheap labour and raw materials. There are no guarantees that the wealth from inward investment will benefit the local community. Often, profits are sent back to the MEDC where the transnational corporation is based. Transnational companies may drive local companies out of business. Globalisation is viewed by many as a threat to the world's cultural diversity. It is feared it might drown out local economies, traditions and languages and simply re-cast the whole world in the mould of the capitalist North and West. An example of this is that a Hollywood film is far more likely to be successful worldwide than one made in India or China, which also have thriving film industries. Industry may begin to thrive in LEDCs at the expense of jobs in manufacturing in the UK and other MEDCs, especially in textiles. The rich are concentrated in the US, Europe and Japan, with the richest 1% alone owning 40% of the world's wealth. Millions of people in the U.S. and U.K. have lost jobs due to imports or production shifts abroad. Most find new jobs--that pay less.