Navigating the waves of globalisation

Opportunities and challenges

GLOBALISATION, an intricate and multifaceted phenomenon, encompasses the increasing interdependence of the world’s economies through trade, investment, technological innovation and information exchange.

This process unfolds as countries specialise in various production areas and engaging in free trade with one another.

By focusing on goods and services, they can produce at lower opportunity costs compared to others;  nations capitalise on the comparative advantages inherent in international trade.

A pivotal aspect of globalisation is the standardisation of advanced, relatively affordable products. Firms, aiming to meet the demands of a broad consumer base, often produce goods that adhere to a general set of characteristics.

This approach not only caters to mass consumption but also streamlines production processes and reduces costs, further fuelling the global economic integration.

The removal or reduction of trade barriers by many countries in the 1990s markedly accelerated the pace of globalisation. Developing countries, in particular, experienced a substantial influx of capital from developed nations.

This capital influx spurred job creation, facilitated technology diffusion and stimulated innovation within developing economies.

Additionally, the opening of larger foreign markets bolstered exports, significantly enhancing national income. Consequently, total domestic output increased, leading to a decline in real prices.

Consumers reaped substantial benefits from globalisation, enjoying a greater diversity of both tangible and intangible products and lower relative prices.

Technological advancements further augmented these benefits by enabling access to goods regardless of the geographical distance between producers and consumers.

As a result, firms producing standardised products have seen their market power increase, leveraging economies of scale and reaching a wider global audience.

However, significant challenges persist.

Although positive capital inflows stimulate growth, heavy reliance on foreign capital exposes countries to significant risks, particularly those associated with currency speculation and capital flight. These risks can lead to job destruction and increased unemployment.

The detrimental effects of capital flight become especially pronounced when the financial sector faces rising default risk and declining stock prices.

This instability can undermine economic growth, disrupt markets, and erode investor confidence, posing severe challenges for developing economies that depend heavily on foreign capital.

A recent report in The Business Times indicates that up to 60 per cent of Malaysians seeking overseas employment are skilled workers.

The primary reasons cited are better job opportunities and higher salaries in foreign countries. This has adversely affected Malaysia’s production capabilities and overall labour productivity.

Conversely, countries that successfully attract foreign skilled labour generally experience increased competition in the labour market, improved productivity and greater diversity in the workforce.

At macroeconomic level, these benefits contribute to downward trends in real prices of goods and sustained economic growth.

Businesses enjoy cheaper input prices due to lower relative price of inputs. In Singapore, businesses are able to fill job vacancies at lower cost because of weaker Malaysian ringgit.

To mitigate the risks associated with globalisation, companies can adopt several strategic measures aimed at retaining skilled workers and maintaining economic stability.

Creating competitive compensation packages and fostering conducive work environments are essential steps in this direction.

By implementing comprehensive employee development programmes and offering clear career advancement opportunities, businesses can effectively reduce the negative economic impact of long-term brain drain.

Investing in talent development and providing competitive salaries not only help in retaining skilled professionals but also contribute to enhancing overall productivity.

These measures ensure that companies maintain a robust and capable workforce, which is crucial for sustaining growth and competitiveness in the global market.

The rampant growth of globalisation has heightened countries’ exposure to unfair trade practices, including export subsidies and price discrimination. Some nations implement export subsidies to boost their exports and outcompete foreign producers.

While the exporting country typically bears the cost of these subsidies, practices such as dumping impose significant financial burdens on the importing country.

Dumping, a form of price discrimination, occurs when an exporting country sells large quantities of goods at prices substantially lower than those paid by domestic consumers.

In the long term, such an imbalance will be disruptive to fair competition and often provokes retaliatory measures and sanctions from trading partners, hence jeopardising international trade relations.

For example, the European Union has just decided to raise tariffs on imports of electric cars from China because it believes the prices of such vehicles are so artificially low.

Evidently, China is taking seriously a proposal to hit back by placing identical tariffs on vehicles it purchases from the EU.

These examples show how globalisation muddles up many situations, that sometimes become tense and requires open and fair trade practices in order to maintain healthy international dynamics of trade.

To counteract dumping, protect jobs, support infant industries, and address trade deficits, some countries have introduced tariffs and non-tariff barriers such as quotas, sanctions, and embargoes. However, these measures often come with negative implications.

They can reduce total world output due to fragmented markets, lower levels of specialisation, and decreased mobility of goods, leading to a reduced diversity of products.

Despite these drawbacks, countries benefit from globalisation when trade and capital flows are liberalised.

This liberalisation enables higher operational capacities, provided there is transparency and political and socio-economic stability among trading partners.

Globalisation itself should not be blamed for unemployment, increased poverty, income inequality, or slow real GDP growth. Unemployment may stem from structural issues, such as job redundancies caused by technological advancements and innovations.

Poverty may arise when certain segments of the workforce fail to benefit from government policies aimed at promoting exports, such as those supporting local agricultural products and services.

To effectively address these domestic macroeconomic problems, more specific and targeted policies are necessary.

For instance, governments could implement retraining programmes for workers displaced by technological changes and initiatives to improve overall labour productivity.

Fostering an environment of healthy competition can further enhance productivity.

This objective can be achieved through continuous performance evaluations and the establishment of clear, attainable goals for employees.

Additionally, businesses should promote innovation and adaptability to maintain competitiveness in the global market.

By investing in these areas, countries can harness the benefits of globalisation while mitigating its potential drawbacks.

Nevertheless, market adjustments have become increasingly complex in our highly integrated world, driven by enhanced global trade and rapid technological advancements.

Differences in real wages, real prices, and labour productivity have led to the reallocation of economic resources within countries and to price and wage adjustments among countries engaged in global trade.

As a result, countries with lower labour productivity may find imports relatively cheaper, leading to increased imports and heightened domestic competition.

In the short run, this dynamic can result in a decline in domestic output and an increase in unemployment, particularly if the volume of imports is significant.

However, in the long run, improvements in labour productivity and firm efficiency can lead to reduced domestic product prices, making domestic goods more price-competitive and lessening the attractiveness of imports.

Ultimately, without intervention, prices and wages will adjust until differences are minimised, reducing the incentive to import.

The duration of these adjustments varies across countries and depends on the mobility of factors within each country.

Globalisation presents both opportunities and challenges. To maximise long-term benefits, countries must proactively address these impacts and develop effective strategies to manage them.

This includes fostering an environment that supports continuous improvement in labour productivity, firm efficiency, and overall economic resilience.

By doing so, nations can better navigate the complexities of the global market and leverage globalisation for sustainable growth.

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● Dr Callie Lau is from the School of Business in the Faculty of Business, Design and Arts, Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus

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The views expressed here are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the Sarawak Tribune.