Globalisation and its Impact (a)

How far have improvements in communication technology made globalisation possible? Explain your answer.
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L1 Writes about topic without focus on question L2 Describes Given Factor OR identifies / describes other factor(s) L3 Explains Given Factor OR other factor(s) L4 Explains both Given Factor AND other factor(s)
Improvement in technology has made communications among people in different locations faster and more convenient. People across the globe can communicate via tools such as telephone, electronic mail, fax and video conferencing. Satellite technology has enabled messages to be transmitted from one location and received in another part of the world almost simultaneously. Optical fibre systems have very large carrying capacity and transmit information at very high speed. The invention of advanced communication technology such as the Internet has enabled consumers to access information about new products and places more conveniently and efficiently. Advances in communication technology allow TNCs to coordinate and control their worldwide activities easily. The transfer of knowledge and information and easy access to it has shrunk the world considerably and was an important driving force of globalisation.

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Transport systems are the means by which people, materials and products are transferred from one place to another. Improvement in transportation technology has shrunk the world considerably in terms of time taken to get from one place to another. A major improvement in transportation technology in the 19th C included the widespread use of steam engine. In the 20th C, the commercial jet aircraft, large ocean-going vessels and containerisation greatly increased the movement of goods and people from one place to another. Containerisation has reduced the time and cost of moving goods over long distances and has greatly simplified the transfer of goods from one mode of transportation to another as containers can be easily transferred from ships to trucks. Countries have built efficient and integrated transportation infrastructure such as airports, seaports, railways and highways to facilitate the increasing mobility of goods and people. The efficient transport

network worldwide has made it possible for goods and people to move around the world easily thus contributing to globalisation.

L5 L4 + Balanced consideration of factors 12 Globalisation could not have occurred without improvement in transportation and communication technology. These two forms of technology perform two different but complementary roles in encouraging globalisation. Transportation technology allows people and goods to move across the world conveniently and swiftly. Communication technology allows information to be transmitted at high speed. Both serve to drive globalisation and enhance the inter-connectedness of the world.

(b) Which impact of globalisation is more serious the social impact or the economic impact? Explain your answer [13]

L1 Writes about topic without focus on question L2 Describes one given factor or second given factor L3 Explains one given factor and / or second given factor L4 Explains both given factors
Globalisation has rapidly increased the income gap between the rich and poor nations. It has resulted in rapid development in many countries. However, it has also increased the spread of poverty in many other countries. The developed nations countries are experiencing rapid income growth as they own most of the manufacturing activities. On the other hand, the developing nations often face trade barriers imposed by the developed nations. They are not capable of producing quality goods, which command high prices and fetch large revenue. The situation of a widening income gap posed a serious problem to countries that embrace globalisation as it may adversely affect social cohesion. If not properly managed, it may lead to many other social problems such as increase in crime rates.

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Critics of globalisation say that it often leads to a loss of local culture. Globalisation has resulted in global brands such as Starbucks and McDonalds dominating the consumer market in developing countries. These corporations, with their standardised methods of operations have outlets that are identical in appearance.

In these way, these corporations have created a homogeneous culture across the world and eroded local culture. The loss of local culture pose a serious problem to the country because when the culture is eroded, it would be difficult to recreate. As such, the identity of the country is at stake.

L5 L4 + Balanced consideration of factors

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