Detailed Summary
Globalisation is a process that integrates economies, cultures, and societies across the world, driven primarily by advances in technology, liberalization of trade and investment policies, and pressures from international organizations, such as the World Trade Organization (WTO). Over the past thirty years, multinational corporations (MNCs) have played a significant role in this process by relocating production to regions where costs are lower, often in developing countries like India.
Key Factors Enabling Globalisation:
- Technological Improvements: Innovations in transportation and communication technologies, such as container shipping and the internet, have drastically reduced costs and improved efficiency in the movement of goods and services globally.
- Liberalization of Trade and Investment Policies: Countries, especially developing ones, have increasingly removed barriers to foreign trade and investment to attract MNCs, which encourages competition and improves product variety and quality in local markets. Understanding India's pre-liberalization era provides context for its rapid economic shifts post-1991.
- Influence of International Organizations: Bodies like the WTO promote policies that facilitate free trade, impacting domestic policies in various countries.
These elements have led to heightened interdependence, where production and services are often linked across countries. MNCs take advantage of this interconnectivity to optimize production processes, creating both opportunities and challenges for local industries.