30 UniT 02 | Big bucks or no dough? You are going to read an article about the advantages and disadvantages of globalisation. First, work in two groups: Group A writes down as many advantages of globalisation as they can think of, group B does the same with its disadvantages. You can look at the previous pages of this unit for inspiration. Now form pairs, with one partner from group A and one from group B. Look at your lists of advantages and disadvantages. Can you establish connections between some of them? Example: Loss of jobs in the manufacturing industries in Europe – job creation in low-wage countries such as India or Vietnam. Form groups of four and compare the connections you have established. Are there any advantages or disadvantages that can’t be connected? What are they about? Read the article about globalisation. Complete the sentences (1–9) using a maximum of four words. Write your answers in the spaces provided. The first one (0) has been done for you. SPEAKING 25 a b c READING 26 Globalisation: A bitter-sweet story In the last few decades, our world has globalised at breakneck speed. Average incomes worldwide have grown by 24%, and 1 billion people have been lifted out of poverty. But the upheavals caused by globalisation have also left millions behind. So, is globalisation a beneficial force powering economic growth and allowing the spread of ideas to improve people’s lives; or does it destroy communities and widen the gap between the elites and the rest of the world? Both advanced and developing economies have benefited from globalisation in terms of having higher productivity, more job creation and higher wages. For example, the prices of day-to-day products such as washing machines, cars, or even clothing have declined so that they have become far more affordable for a lot more people in the world. But there are always winners and losers and, although free trade can make the overall economic pie bigger, not everyone gets a larger slice. The biggest losers from increased worldwide integration are those whose skills have a cheaper competitor in a different market. Workers in the manufacturing sector of the US and Europe have had their jobs outsourced to countries where labour is less expensive. For them, globalisation has been very costly in terms of employment and wages. While recent statistics indicate that the greatest benefits of globalisation are concentrated on an ‘emerging middle class’ based mostly in China, the largest gains in absolute terms have gone to what is commonly called ‘the 1%’ – half of whom are based in the US. So, clearly, some communities and workers lose out, and this creates dissatisfaction with globalisation. A growing number of citizens in Europe, North America and the Middle East blame globalisation for unemployment, rising inequality within their countries, pandemics and terrorism. The result is rapidly growing support for populist and nationalistic movements as people’s concerns move them to support political parties that advocate protectionism1, reductions in immigration and greater national control over the marketplace. Globalisation has led to faster access to technology, improved communication and innovation, yet another critical concern is its impact on the environment. Increased consumption and production of goods put stress on the environment through higher volumes of shipping from one continent to another, raising pollution levels and straining non-renewable sources of energy. The gases that are emitted by aircraft, for example, have led to the depletion of the ozone layer and heightened the greenhouse effect. The 1 protectionism: Protektionismus (Gestaltung der Handelspolitik mit Hemmnissen für ausländische Anbieter; Gegenteil von Freihandel) Nur zu Prüfzwecken – Eigentum des Verlags öbv
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