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

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/business/international/china-proposes-setting-up/835722.html  

(4) How we made it in Africa, 2011. Africa’s deepening financial sector. Retrieved from

 http://www.howwemadeitinafrica.com/africas-deepening-financial-sector/12890/  

(5) The Guardian, 2013. UNHCR 2012 refugee statistics: full data. Retrieved from

 http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2013/jun/19/refugees-unhcr-statistics-data#data

(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/