Preview

Globalization: Does It Help or Hinder Poverty? Essay Example

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1772 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Globalization: Does It Help or Hinder Poverty? Essay Example
Introduction
Globalization is one of the most widely debated topics in the world today. There are many different schools of thought on the effects of globalization on world poverty. Certain people believe that globalization increases global poverty and that the poor of the world are cheated because of it. However, others believe that globalization decreases poverty and helps aid the poor. Further to this, another group of people believe that poverty and globalization are not linked.

However, before moving into a debate on globalization and poverty, we must first look to define these terms. Globalization can be described as the “process fuelled by, and resulting in, increasing cross-border flows of goods, services, money, people, information and culture.” Thus, this means that there is more travel and tourism, immigration, investment, trade and on the whole a creation of a universal set of values. Different people have different perceptions of globalization. Some see it as a beneficial process – something that leads to economic development in the world and is inevitable. On the other hand, certain people believe that it increases inequality within nations, causes unemployment, deteriorates living standards, and prevents social progress.

In this essay, I will outline the positive and negative effects of globalization on world poverty. In addition to this, I will then attempt to present a case to reinforce my belief that globalization, at large, has in fact helped reduce poverty. Also, I will give examples of two specific developing nations which have adopted an integration policy and look at the reasons for whether this has been a success or not.

How does Globalization increase global poverty?
Multinationals competing with Domestic Businesses
Globalization can have a negative effect on society and contribute towards increased poverty in the world. For example, according to Robert Reich, a political economist, “national economies” are disappearing . By

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Globalization is not a perfected idea. In fact it has brought many problems and is not available to everyone. Thanks to globalization many jobs have been outsourced, the prosperity it brings isn't always affordable and the fact governments rise and fall show that it's not sustainable. Overall globalizations prosperity is not sustainable and not available to all.…

    • 368 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Life and Debt Response

    • 1471 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Globalization has been a controversial topic for decades followed by the industrialization. The debate of whether it is positive or negative for the human race has caused much divergence, consequently leading to vast conflicts between different cultures, nations, and peoples. Although globalization brought convenience to the lives of a few on a daily basis in the industrialized countries, it also brought about world power monopolies controlling the trade system, exploitation of workers in developing countries, and victimizing the societies that are unable to self sustain.…

    • 1471 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    What can two dollars buy you? A small coffee at Starbucks, a candy bar, bag of chips, and a soda, a slice of pizza. For nearly three billion people, approximately half of the world 's population, two dollars a day is all the money that the person has to live on. Moreover, of the 2.2 billion children in the world, 1 billion grow up in poverty; 640 million without adequate shelter, 400 millions with no access to safe water, and 270 million with no access to health services (UNICEF 2005). One proposed reason for this harsh reality of high poverty rates is globalization - the growing integration of economies and societies around the world. The claim that globalization generates poverty has been the focus of many debates for the last twenty years, including the debate between Carlos Caretto, Gillian Crowl, Steve Grossman, and Annie Wong on February 21, 2005. Caretto and Crowl argued that poverty is an indirect result of globalization as is evident by high unemployment rates, wage inequality, and diminishing health and educational programs. Grossman and Wong contended that globalization does not generate poverty, but it in fact helps the world by promoting education, decreasing and shortening the length of wars, and increasing new resources. Close examination of the facts presented in lectures, readings, and the debates shows that each side presents logical evidence, but the facts confirm that globalization does in fact generate poverty.…

    • 1917 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Best Essays

    We live in an age of global visions, where differences in time, space, nationality, and culture seem to have melted away, and globalization has become a defining term for the current era. It is the massive chain of events, a comprehensive global movement primarily concerning international economic growth, development, and integration of markets that has helped raise the standard of living for many people worldwide. It has also, however, driven many deeper into poverty. McMichael, in his book “Development and Social Change”, expands on critical events that led to the spark of the globalization project such as the rise of Export Processing Zones (EPZ), the debt crisis, the neo-liberal approach, and many others.…

    • 4096 Words
    • 17 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Good Essays

    Is economic globalization good for humankind? Murray Weidenbaum (2007) believes globalization is a positive change especially for poor nations and an opportunity for the exchange of ideas between countries. For the basis of his argument, Weidenbaum states the top ten myths about economic globalization and rebukes them. On the opposite side of the argument is Herman E. Daly (2007) who is strongly against economic globalization. With economic integration comes political, social, and cultural integration between countries which will result in a loss of national identity and the potential for national governments to be replaced by multinational governments. To support his argument, Daly gives four negative consequences as the result of economical globalization (Street & Street, 2007).…

    • 1085 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Globalization is a series of social, economical, technological, cultural, and political changes that promote interdependence and growth. Globalization raises the standard of living in developing countries, spreads technological knowledge, and increases political liberation. (Harris 5-23) The main cause of globalization is influence from other, more developed, countries. Globalization is a historical process that results from human innovation and technological progress. The social effects of globalization are clearly illustrated in Peru. Once a third-world country filled with poverty and oppression, Peru is now transitioning into a developed nation. In Peru, globalization has raised the human development index, empowered women, and created a stronger country. (Leon 90-91)…

    • 1907 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Globalization and Poverty

    • 1498 Words
    • 6 Pages

    This essay is comprised of five major parts: First, we will talk about globalization and its impact. Second, the global poverty issue will be investigated. Third, new market opportunities in poor markets will be studied. And finally, I will conclude the essay with my own opinion on future global market development and poverty issue.…

    • 1498 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Last few years, I heard this words a lot of times, it seemed to me like everybody was talking about globalization. Some politicians were saying that it is inevitable and that it will change world to a better place, where people will live like in a small village in peace and harmony, economists argued that economy of both developing and developed countries will benefit a lot of it. I have never ever expressed a doubt about globalization. I was thinking that will be a great opportunity to decrease poverty and exclusion, but after the events that happened in Seattle summit, a strong movement against globalization raised up and conceptions of many people about this inevitable fact changed completely, and I was one of them. So an important question came to my mind can globalization really helps to economical development for developing countries? And could it be a solution to eradicate economical exclusion of poor countries?…

    • 1856 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Globalization has had a huge impact on the world in a number of ways. It has increased the integration of countries' individual economies, the rise in the world trade and multinational companies, and the effect of large amounts of money moving in and out of economies throughout the world. People around the world are more connected to each other than ever before. Information and money flow more quickly than ever before. In addition goods and services produced in one part of the world are increasingly available in all parts of the world. International travel and communication in now more frequent and has become commonplace throughout the world. It can not be denied that globalization has had an overwhelming positive influence. Millions of jobs have been opened up through the ever increasing productivity and efficiency of the global economy. Globalization for less developed countries has encouraged faster growth, in turn promoting poverty reduction, democratization and higher labor and environmental standards. It also gives citizens greater individual freedom to express views and experience cultures through such mediums as television and the internet, which encourage understanding around the world.…

    • 539 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The idea that the poor get poorer is in most ways unfounded. Sweat-shops are an example of a terrible characteristic of globalization. Nevertheless, the use of sweat-shops is declining thanks to consumer pressure. Additionally, sweat-shops are a function of the governments of the countries in which they exist. It is not globalization's fault that people are treated poorly in a country, but rather it is the fault of that government for not looking out for the welfare of its people. Beyond that, though, I believe globalization is helping the poor get richer. To start, take the example in the previous paragraph and reverse it. While Americans losing their jobs get poorer, workers in other countries get richer. Multinational corporations are finding these developing countries provide very appealing investment opportunities and so they are putting their money into these countries, by so doing, helping them to grow and enriching their citizens.…

    • 347 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Globalization expands and accelerates the exchange of one country’s resources to benefit all countries around the world. The first reason that makes me against this phenomenon is destroying the economy of countries.Globalization has increased the integration of separate economies which led to the emergence of a single global economy. As countries are getting closer and the cross-border movement is rapidly increasing, the economies of different countries have been interdependently mixed. Therefore, if there is an economic crisis in one part of the world that will affect all parts that have a relationship with. For example, the problem of Greece affected the entire European countries. In short, one can say that the impact of globalization on the world-wide economy is very bad and its results will affect several countries in a row, if not the whole world. If there is a problem in the United States of America, the side effects will be seen here in Saudi Arabia.…

    • 659 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Globalization is a relatively recent phenomenon that has an enormous influence on the future of our planet. It elicits contradictory reactions from economists, politicians, scientists and ordinary people. In addition to its benefits, globalization has dangers and risks. It is responsible for environmental problems, the population explosion, extreme poverty, mass unemployment, etc.…

    • 908 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Globalization is the largest chance for a nation to be lifted out of poverty, and a good chance for countries with economic transition to get along with the international trade since foreign investors are attracted to transfer capital in countries with cheaper labor fee. Economic globalization is also a way to cover the shadow of globalization which lingers around territorial conflicts and tradition-based decision making with less-life threatening power which businessmen, financers, and bankers possess…

    • 1026 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    What Is Globalization

    • 1414 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Globalization is a term that includes a wide range of social and economic variations. It can encompass topics like the cultural changes, economics, finance trends, and global market expansion. There ought to be positive and negative effects of globalization - it all comes as a package. Globalization helps in creating new markets and wealth, at the same time it is responsible for extensive suffering, disorder, and unrest. The great financial crisis that just happened is the biggest example of how negative globalization can turn. It clearly reveals the dangers of an unstable, deregulated, global economy. At the same time, this gave rise to important global initiatives, striving towards betterment. Globalization is a factor responsible for both repression and the social boom.…

    • 1414 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    On the other hand, globalization has some disadvantages. It exposes the gap between rich and poor – rich countries can have theirs cheap goods from poorer countries. They exploit workers. Also, we can see that globalization destroys local cultures and traditions. People don’t feel their membership to countries where they were born and grew up.…

    • 496 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays