| Your shirt was made in Mexico and your shoes in | | | | another country you don't have to make your own |
| China. Your CD player comes from Japan. You can | | | | steel. You can focus on computers or other things. |
| travel to Moscow and eat a Big Mac there and you | | | | - Globalization gives you a larger market. You can sell |
| can watch an American film in Rome. Today, goods | | | | more goods and make more money. You can create |
| are made and sold all over the world, thanks to | | | | more jobs. |
| globalization. | | | | - Consumers also profit from globalization. Products |
| Globalization lets countries move closer to each other. | | | | become cheaper and you can get new goods more |
| People, companies and organizations in different | | | | quickly. |
| countries can live and work together. We can | | | | Bad sides |
| exchange goods, money and ideas faster and | | | | - Globalization causes unemployment in industrialized |
| cheaper than ever before. Modern communication | | | | countries because firms move their factories to |
| and technology, like the Internet, cell phones or | | | | places where they can get cheaper workers. |
| satellite TV help us in our daily lives. | | | | - Globalization may lead to more environmental |
| Globalization is growing quickly. A German company | | | | problems. A company may want to build factories in |
| can produce cars in Argentina and then sell them in | | | | other countries because environmental laws are not |
| the United States. A businessman in Great Britain can | | | | as strict as they are at home. Poor countries in the |
| buy a part of a company in Indonesia on one day | | | | Third World may have to cut down more trees so |
| and sell parts of another business in China the next, | | | | that they can sell wood to richer countries. |
| thanks to globalization. Fast food companies open | | | | - Globalization can lead to financial problems. In the |
| shops around the world almost every day. | | | | 1970s and 80s countries like Mexico, Thailand, |
| History of Globalization | | | | Indonesia or Brazil got a lot of money from investors |
| Globalization is not new. For thousands of years | | | | who hoped they could build up new businesses there. |
| people have been trading goods and travelling across | | | | These new companies often didn't work, so they |
| great distances. During the Middle Ages, merchants | | | | had to close down and investors pulled out their |
| travelled along the Silk Road, which connected Europe | | | | money. |
| and China. | | | | - Some of the poorest countries in the world, |
| The modern age of globalization started with the | | | | especially in Africa, may get even poorer. Their |
| Industrial Revolution at the end of the 18th century. | | | | population is not as educated as in developed |
| New machines were able to produce cheaper goods. | | | | countries and they don't have the new technology |
| Trains and steam-powered boats transported | | | | that we do. |
| products farther and faster. | | | | - Human, animal and plant diseases can spread more |
| Since 1980, globalization has been moving at a faster | | | | quickly through globalization. |
| pace. Today it is easier for companies to work in | | | | Many experts say that we need a different kind of |
| other countries. The Internet gives them the chance | | | | globalization in our world today. There must be ways |
| of reaching more customers around the world. | | | | to make sure that all countries profit from the good |
| Teleworkers work for firms that may be far away. | | | | sides of globalization. We should help poorer countries |
| However, there is a growing debate over | | | | by giving them better education and showing them |
| globalization. Governments are in favour of | | | | how new technology works. |
| globalization because the economy can grow. Other | | | | Every year, leaders of the world's biggest industrial |
| people are not so sure that there are only | | | | countries get together to discuss economic problems. |
| advantages. Here are some arguments from both | | | | This meeting is called the G8 summit. In the last few |
| sides: | | | | years groups against globalization have organized |
| Good sides | | | | protest marches and demonstrations to point out |
| - Globalization lets countries do what they can do | | | | that not everyone is happy with how the world's |
| best. If, for example, you buy cheap steel from | | | | economy is developing. |