Make a list of all the social media networks for which you have an account. Then note how many of your followers/contacts on these sites live: (a) outside of your home county; and (b) outside of Ireland.
2. Economic Globalisation
The economies of most countries are now becoming more interconnected. This process is called economic globalisation . There are several reasons for this:
Import–export taxes and other trade ‘barriers’ between countries have decreased. International free-trade areas, such as the EU, allow the free movement of goods, services and citizens between their member states.
MNCs control more and more trade and manufacturing operations. Most of these companies have their headquarters in the US or Europe, with branches in many parts of the world. These powerful companies thrive in free-trade conditions. They can put enormous pressure on individual governments to adopt free-trade laws and policies. Smaller companies tend to decline as MNCs grow.
Many MNCs will set up factories in developing regions where they can get cheap labour and other resources. This lowers the cost of manufacturing their products and increases their profits.
Managing information and thinking
1. List the MNCs that you see depicted on this map. Name three other MNCs that are not depicted on the map. 2. What message do you think the map is giving?