Skip to main content

Insecurity is the price of globalization. Is it worth paying?

There is no way to answer this question in an objective way.  It is probably possible to objectively state the costs and benefits of globalization (though not everyone will agree on what those are).  However, it is not possible to objectively decide whether the benefits are greater than the costs.


The benefits of globalization are generally spread around and hard to see.  Globalization helps us because it allows us to have high-quality goods for the...

There is no way to answer this question in an objective way.  It is probably possible to objectively state the costs and benefits of globalization (though not everyone will agree on what those are).  However, it is not possible to objectively decide whether the benefits are greater than the costs.


The benefits of globalization are generally spread around and hard to see.  Globalization helps us because it allows us to have high-quality goods for the lowest possible price.  If we did not have globalization, we would be paying higher prices for almost everything we own.  As we can see in the articles in the links below, some experts believe that an iPhone produced in the United States would cost at least twice as much as an iPhone made by foreign workers who work for lower wages.  Because so many things are produced outside the US (because of globalization) we are able to have a high standard of living with many material possessions.  We would not be able to have such a high standard of living without globalization.  However, it is hard to know how much worse-off we would be.


The costs of globalization are easily visible.  When a company moves its factories to China, it is easy to see the people who have lost their jobs.  It is easy to understand how much they have been harmed by globalization.  In our globalized world, more and more of us face insecurity because we know our jobs could potentially be sent to another country.  We can easily imagine how hard life would be for us if we lost our jobs.  This cost is very easy to understand.


So which of these effects is more important?  Globalization has given us a higher standard of living.  On the other hand, it has made us have to fear that we will lose our jobs to foreign workers.  Is the higher standard of living worth the fear of losing our jobs?  What is your opinion on this issue?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is the meaning of "juggling fiends" in Macbeth?

Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a... Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a sense of guilt, and that man tells him: Despair thy charm. And let the angel whom thou still hast serve...
Post a Comment
Read more

In Martel's Life of Pi, how does writing a diary help Pi Patel build on his leadership skills?

At the end of chapter 73, Pi first divulges the fact that he had started a diary after about a week alone at sea. Pi claims that he wrote about "practical stuff" (208) such as what he caught for food, foreseeable problems and solutions, Richard Parker, and reflections about specific events that occurred. In a sense, Pi is the captain of his ship; therefore, he must take responsibility for himself and his crew. He can... At the end of chapter 73, Pi first divulges the fact that he had started a diary after about a week alone at sea. Pi claims that he wrote about "practical stuff" (208) such as what he caught for food, foreseeable problems and solutions, Richard Parker, and reflections about specific events that occurred. In a sense, Pi is the captain of his ship; therefore, he must take responsibility for himself and his crew. He can do this by writing down events, problems and solutions, and reflections to look back on when confronted with repeated problems. It can ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Why did Tybalt attack and kill Mercutio instead of Romeo, who he had originally been targeting?

Though Tybalt's quarrel is with Romeo, he begins the momentous duel in Act 3 by fighting with and killing Mercutio instead. Tybalt ultimately attacks Mercutio because the garrulous and hot-headed character insults Tybalt and goads him into a duel to protect Romeo's honor. From the beginning of the encounter in Act 3, Scene 1, it's clear that Mercutio is itching for a fight. For instance, when Tybalt signals that he wants to talk to Mercutio... Though Tybalt's quarrel is with Romeo, he begins the momentous duel in Act 3 by fighting with and killing Mercutio instead. Tybalt ultimately attacks Mercutio because the garrulous and hot-headed character insults Tybalt and goads him into a duel to protect Romeo's honor. From the beginning of the encounter in Act 3, Scene 1, it's clear that Mercutio is itching for a fight. For instance, when Tybalt signals that he wants to talk to Mercutio and Benvolio, Mercutio responds "And but one word with one of us?/ Couple it w...
Post a Comment
Read more