Globalisation can be defined as
the increasing cross-border interaction and integration of various aspects of
human activity. Based on this view of globalisation, identify one problematic area
of the phenomenon and discuss its influence on contemporary society. What
actual or possible means are there to ameliorate (improve) the issue
highlighted?
Globalisation
promotes the deployment of human resource to an unprecedented level that people
move in and out of countries more frequently. Exporting and exchanging human capital
are ubiquitous today. However, some regions have concentrated human capital because
of unequal influx and outflow rate of foreign talents. Since labour forces are
the key to future development, the uneven distribution will cause economic
imbalance in the future.
The world population
is more hybridised than ever due to increasing mobility. With lower opportunity
cost, namely the cost of an alternative that must be forgone, people choose to migrate
and travel at an alarming rate and seek better education as well as new job
openings in emerging markets of developing countries. Problems would not have arisen
if there was an equal exchanging and migrating rate, but talents are most
likely to be attracted to the most lucrative
business and thus, naturally human capital is distributed unevenly. In China,
there were about 350,000 students going overseas in 2011 and the number increased
by 30 % in 2008(China Xinhua New, 2011). Furthermore, many western investors are
moving their funds to support their starting businesses and setting up branches
in Asia where natural resources and low-cost labour are abundant. In addition,
the emerging banking and finance industry in Asia is developing at an
astonishing speed (Channel News Asia, 2013). On the contrary, the financial
markets and systems in many African countries are undeveloped and progress is
stagnant; financial professionals are less tempted to go there (How we made it
in Africa, 2011). Without the support of quality human resources, the future economic
gap between different regions will be widened and a vicious cycle may continue,
causing an almost irreversible effect on fair distribution of wealth and
equality.
The most important
step in ameliorating the problem is a united consensus and a recognized common
ground among different governments that unequal distribution of fortune will
eventually result in serious and detrimental turmoil on a world-wide scale. Poverty-ridden
people in poor countries will remain constantly poor if no help from outside is
given and they will have no choice but to escape from the region(The Guardian,
2013) and flee to other countries for survival which may cause a series of
problems in the country where they move to. This is happening in some south-east
European countries where they take in too many refugees from Africa and the
war-ridden Middle East (Science Co.). The accommodation, education and job
opportunities for those foreigners are insufficient and with the discrimination
against those people, social inequality and instability rise. The problem could
deteriorate if no effective solution is provided to improve the living standard
of the ‘abandoned countries’.
Governments
along with international organizations should try to close the gap by first
constructing an effective platform for information exchange. Asymmetric
information is a huge barrier for development as in this fast-pace information era.
Digital recording replaces hand-written paper recording; information exchange
is done via long-distance devices; less hardcopies are used and most transactions
are done online, which greatly enhances the efficiency of communication. The
poor countries may not be able to establish such systems, so developed
countries may help to set up basic infrastructure such as networks in financial
institutions, media equipment and cable construction to connect the countries
with the rest of the world.
On a
domestic scale, governments should introduce effective talent policy to boost
the talent pool as well as attracting foreign talents. For example, Singapore
is a country which emphasizes human resource development. It inputs huge fund
into education, approximately more than 20% of the GDP (Singapore Ministry of
Education, 2012); it
provides various subsidies for low and middle-income families so that the
children can go to school and become highly skilled worker through education (Singapore
Ministry of Education, 2013). Apart from developing and enhancing domestic
talents, Singapore implements policies to attract more foreign talents to work
by providing scholarships and subsidies. Singapore used to a small fishing town
and red dot on the map, but with its effort in boosting human resource it grows
at a stunning speed. The poverty-ridden countries can simulate the development
of Singapore and nurture its own skilled workers. The development of human
capital in Singapore took decades to be established, improved and completed,
but with abundant natural resources, the expected development period should be
shortened.
In
conclusion, the uneven distribution of human resource caused by globalization
is worsening the fair distribution of the world wealth. With concentrated
talent pools, Asia and America create the astonishing amount fortune and
opportunity and more investments are attracted. On the contrary, the help to
people in poor countries is disproportionate and resources are drained and
highly talented labour moves out for better opportunities, which exacerbates
the poverty and inequality. International aid is ineffective and communication has
not been fully established; no effective domestic policy is implemented. Hopefully,
governments can realize that globalization connects every part of the world
strongly, helps reduce inequality to lower the potential risk and brings unity
and equality in the future.
Reference:
(1) Xinhua
News. 2011. Expected number of students going overseas reaches 350,000. Retrieved
from http://news.xinhuanet.com/2011-12/13/c_122417704.htm
(2) Channel
NewsAsia, 2013. China proposes setting up Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.
Retrieved from
(4) How we made it in Africa, 2011. Africa’s
deepening financial sector. Retrieved from
(5) The
Guardian, 2013. UNHCR 2012 refugee statistics: full data. Retrieved from
(6) Science
Co. Middle East Refugee. Retrieved from http://www.science.co.il/Arab-Israeli-conflict/Refugees.asp
(7) Singapore
Ministry of Education, 2012. Ministry of Education Expenditure. Retrieved from http://www.mof.gov.sg/budget_2012/expenditure_overview/moe.html
(8) Singapore
Ministry of Education, 2013. Ministry of Education. Retrieved from http://www.moe.gov.sg/initiatives/financial-assistance/
