Contents:

  1. Learning Outcomes
  2. Definitions
  3. Meaning of globaliation and its causes and consequencess
  4. Distinction between a free trade area, a customs union, a monetary union and full economic union
  5. Trade creation and trade diversion

Candidates should be able to:

Definitions

Trade creation Transfer of consumption from high to low-cost producers
Trade diversion Transfer of consumption from low to high-cost producers
Full economic union A customs union which also co-ordinates a range of other economic policies among its members
Monetary union A group of countries with a single currency, or different currencies having a fixed mutual exchange rate monitored and controlled by one central bank
Customs union A group of countries that have free trade between members, but common external barriers
Free trade area A group of countries that have few or no price controls in the form of tariffs or quotas between each other
Globalization The expansion of world trade in goods and services, together with capital flows leading to greater international interdependence

16.1 Meaning of globalization and its causes and consequences

The spread of goods, technologies, information, and jobs across national borders and cultural boundaries is known as globalisation. In terms of economics, it refers to a global interdependence facilitated by free trade. Although there are many potential reasons for globalisation, the primary ones are listed in the table below.

Cause Explanation
Economies of scale A domestic market will be insufficient to meet the selling demands of these businesses if the minimum efficient scale connected with that industry is increasing. Businesses will want to expand on a global scale to meet the minimum efficient scale and achieve economies of scale
MNCs These corporations are ready to relocate wherever they may get the best benefits which enhances both labor and capital mobility
Communications It is simpler to communicate and share information as a result of the expansion of the internet, eliminating scale-related managerial inefficiencies
Reduction in trade barriers There has been a decline in trade barriers
Improved transport Enables increased global movement of people and products
Containerisation The decreased unit cost of shipping goods makes markets more competitive globally and helps to bring pricing in the country of manufacture closer to those in export markets