Travels of a T-Shirt Parts 1 and 2

 Part 1 of the book opens with an interesting discussion establishing the United States as the cotton producing superpower of the world. This is mainly because the cotton producers receive vast subsidies from the American government, some even bigger than the entire GDP of smaller cotton producing nations such as Benin. This point is important because it establishes the beginning of the scale of this network that goes into making a t-shirt. It is also important because it demonstrates the inequalities between countries at the global scale. Smaller nations like Benin are outspoken critics of the US getting massive subsidies because it takes away their ability to compete. However, nothing changes because the US has so much power in determining the regulations. The advent of slavery in the United States allowed them to supersede other nations as Britain's top cotton supplier in the mid-1800s. The book also discusses that the US had a much higher incentive to become the dominant producer of cotton, which is also why they stayed on top as the cotton industry began to focus more heavily on mechanization and automation. 

There was a section about GM cotton that really stood out to me, and I think an analogy can be drawn from it. it discussed how Monsanto created GM cotton that could withstand their powerful herbicide. Over time, they needed to keep coming out with new cotton and new herbicides, creating an endless cycle and forcing farmers to impose new regulations to meet the criteria for their products. The analogy I'm drawing here is once again to the relationship between large and small nation at the global economic level. Monsanto created a problem so they could profit from selling the solution, just like the big nations who profit from small nations' resources in the globalizing world. Another important point is that the access to these new and constantly improving herbicides and fertilizers is primarily restricted to developed nations, which creates even more reliability and feeds into the power dynamic.

Part 2 of the book focuses heavily on the next step of creating the t-shirt: spinning the cotton into threads and creating textiles. The significant issue in the section has to do with employment and labor, and its relationship with the greater processes. Much of the labor used in textile mills in China and the rest of Asia is done through women, and it is almost always out of need rather than a free choice to work. This created a business strategy where mills could afford to pay very little for labor since these needy people would work regardless of whether they were actually paid fairly for their work. During this time period China's economy skyrocketed with the growth of the textile industry, which established a cycle of overall advantage compared with smaller-scale labor disadvantages. It also established a global cycle where the US relies on China for its cheap labor and China relies on the US for its supply of cotton to drive the economy. 

T-Shirt Blog 6

 I think that the title of this book is actually a great name for what it is telling. The first half of this book made me think about such a common thing, t-shirts in a way I never have. I think this is mostly because I figured that where they are made is where all of the process going into a shirt is done. I never knew that Texas played such an important role in the cotton industry. Texas is connected to the global trade markets for the cotton they produce. I also never realized how many steps go into making that connection happen.

There are political aspects also, the United States offers a lot of funding to these cotton farms so they can perform in the global markets. This raised the question to me, why does the United States focus so much on subsidizing these farms when the ideology behind globalization is based around free trade with limited government involvement? Now, I am not saying whether it is right or wrong for the government to support them but it is something that leaves me a little confused. Also since the government has a whole lot of money to spend on subsidizing these farmers it can play a role on the global market of cotton. Poorer regions around the globe may not have this same amount of funding which can make them struggle more to produce cotton at a lower price and fairly compete with more wealthy countries like the United States.

Travels of a T-Shirt p.1-140

    In Travels of a T-shirt, Rivoli uses an ordinary cotton t-shirt to explain the reality of globalization. Part 1 and 2  of the book show the shirt’s journey from American cotton farms to Chinese factories. It shows how economics, politics, and labor affect global trade in ways most consumers never even consider.

    Part 1, King Cotton, focuses on how the U.S. dominates in the global cotton industry. Rivoli explains how American cotton farmers have remained competitive for over 200 years with technology and efficient farming methods. She challenges the idea of a “free market” by showing how government policies protect U.S. farmers and give them an advantage over producers in poorer countries. 

    One of the more unsettling points in Part 1 is Rivoli’s discussion of slavery and its connection to the cotton industry. She explains how cotton production in the U.S. originally depended heavily on enslaved labor. The explosive growth of cotton in the 19th century was only possible because millions of enslaved people were forced to work on plantations under brutal conditions. The wealth generated by cotton helped build American industry, while enslaved people and their future generations were denied opportunities and compensation.

    Part 2, Made In China, shifts the focus to manufacturing and labor. Rivoli explains why textiles production moved to China and the availability of low-cost labor and factory efficiency. Sweatshops and their harsh work environment often provide important opportunities for economic mobility, especially for young women. This section shows that globalization can create both hardship and opportunity. It forced me to confront the uncomfortable reality that the low prices we enjoy are tied to difficult working conditions elsewhere.

Travels Of A T-Shirt First Half

 The start of the book focuses on the cotton farmers down in Texas, in which the US is surprisingly the global leaders in the cotton industry. In Texas, the farmers get lots of subsidies, more than the GDP of other small cotton-picking countries. This challenges the idea of a "free market", since unlike those poorer countries, the US farmers have a country with working government and policies which help support their buisness. Unfortunatly, this power with policies and governement assistance can go back to the time of slave labor being used on these plantations.

Not just Texas is mentioned, but also China. After the cotton is farmed in Texas, it is sent to China to make the shirt. The reason it is sent to China and not somewhere in the US is because of the cheap, usually explotative labor in China creating low production costs for companies. Cheap labor is normalized, and even seen as an opportunity in China, as many are living in poverty and these jobs give them needed income. This need for low prices and cheap options brings lots of downsides, hurting small countries, causing hazardous work enviorments, and giving advantages to certain groups. While we love spending less money, many things happen behind the scenes that we turn our eyes from to avoid thinking about.

Travels of a T-shirt 1-140

Even though the house I grew up in is surrounded by farmland, I know absolutely nothing about farming, Leaning about the history of cotton farming, especially why it prospered in the US and its relationship with the slave trade was a particularly interesting section of this book for me. It had never occurred to me to think about the reason behind why cotton plantations were so popular and profitable. I also was unaware that the US government has constantly been creating ways for cotton farmers to skirt around paying for labor. These chapters have been really eye-opening on the complex process of planting cotton. We’ve just barely touched on how the actual t-shirt gets made from the cotton. 

I have a little background knowledge on genetically modified crops from an environmental science class I took in high school, but we didn't really cover the complexities of using these crops in farming. Fixing one problem just to create another to solve seems like it might just be a never ending cycle. I fear that searching for perfection in the science of genetically modified crops will be an unattainable goal. I think the benefits of GM crops heavily outweigh any possible negatives, but that’s only covering what we know so far about them. Can you modify a crop too much, so much so that it becomes invasive? I’ve seen plenty of futuristic horror movies about what happens why humans try to control nature. Now to be clear, I think we’re a long way off from some kind of futuristic crop apocalypse, but I know human greed can lead us to invent things that we shouldn’t. With technology becoming exponentially more advanced, science needs to be clear about it’s ethics in a quickly changing world.

Travels of a T-shirt - Part 1

Having read the first half of this book, it became clear to me that the issue of globalisation is explored through something unexpectedly ordinary: a cotton T-shirt. The journey begins in West Texas, which honestly feels like a surprising starting point for such a big topic. It focuses on Lubbock, the “cottonest city” in the world, and Nelson Reinsch, a long-time cotton farmer. The description of the land stood out to me with it being harsh, flat, windy and unpredictable, a little like parts of the UK. Cotton itself is fragile, so it almost seems surprising that this region became so important globally

One of the main questions that came to my mind is why the US has dominated the cotton industry for over 200 years, especially when so many other industries have shifted to countries with cheaper labour. I think this is what makes cotton such an interesting example of globalisation. On the surface, it doesn’t seem like something a wealthy country should still lead in. It’s basic, highly competitive and far from a luxury product. Yet cotton production has remained high.

The debate over government subsidies adds another layer. Very poor countries seem to argue that US subsidies make it difficult for them to compete, which challenges the idea that global trade is fully “free.” When subsidies to US cotton farmers can exceed the entire GDP of some African cotton producing nations, it shows how uneven the system can be. At the same time, I don’t think subsidies alone explain US dominance. The wider support system including research, infrastructure, technology, and financial support seems just as important. Farmers in Texas constantly adapt to weather, pests and price changes. I think that this adaptability feels central to their long-term success. 

What I found especially interesting is how far back this story goes. Cotton was central to the Industrial Revolution in the UK. Innovations like the spinning jenny dramatically increased output and reduced prices, launching a new industrial economy built on cost competition. However, lower prices definitely came with consequences. Early mills relied heavily on women and children because they were cheaper and seen as more manageable. Industrial growth and exploitation developed side by side, which I feel uncomfortable about. As wages rose in the UK, textile production shifted first to New England, then to the American South and later to Japan before eventually reaching China. Each time, the industry moved to where labour was cheaper and more controllable. Seeing this pattern repeated over centuries makes the phrase “race to the bottom” feel structural rather than dramatic. It’s not simply about one country behaving badly. It’s about how global markets reward whoever can produce goods most cheaply, creating greater profit margins.

What makes this more complicated, though, is that the same global market system that produces exploitation also appears to push economies forward. Today, that race runs through China. Cotton from Texas travels across the Pacific, where it is spun, knitted and stitched into T-shirts. Despite technological advances in farming and machinery, sewing is still largely done by young women sitting in rows, repeating the same motion. That detail stayed with me. Globalisation can sound abstract, trade flows, GDP, exports but in reality I think it’s very human.

People like me benefit from cheap clothing, and countries industrialise through textile exports. But falling prices often rely on workers with limited alternatives. I found myself wondering whether this system is sustainable not just economically, but socially and ethically. If production keeps moving toward lower wages, does the “bottom” ever truly arrive? If we look at earlier industrial powers, though, the answer seems more complicated. Manchester no longer produces cotton. Lowell, Massachusetts is now home to universities and technology firms. Former mill towns in the American South host logistics centres and advanced manufacturing. In Japan and South Korea, textiles helped ignite industrialisation, but they did not remain central forever. As workers become more educated and more expensive, industries built on cheap labour move elsewhere. That shift can be painful locally, but in a broader sense it signals development. The same industries that begin with low wages can act as a ladder by generating income, urbanisation, and experience that eventually push economies forward. This doesn’t erase exploitation, but it complicates the idea that the race to the bottom is purely destructive. China’s scale makes the situation different. Its vast rural population and systems like hukou have allowed it to maintain a large supply of low-cost labour for longer than earlier industrialisers. But even there, wages have risen sharply in some regions, and production is already beginning to shift inland or abroad. The pattern appears to continue.

The final chapters add another important dimension: the race has never gone completely unchecked. Markets push costs downward, but activists, reformers, journalists, and students have consistently pushed back. Child labour, once normal in textile production, is now widely condemned and formally banned. Factory safety standards, minimum wages, and corporate codes of conduct did not emerge automatically they were demanded. The example of Nike shows this clearly. When labour abuses were exposed, companies initially denied responsibility for conditions in overseas factories. Although, consumer pressure and student activism forced them to adopt monitoring systems and codes of conduct. What once seemed radical gradually became standard practice. Reform eventually becomes policy. The environmental discussion follows a similar pattern. It’s easy to assume factories always move to places with weak environmental laws. Though, as countries grow wealthier, people demand cleaner air and water, and regulation strengthens. I was surprised to learn that how we wash and use a T-shirt can sometimes have a greater environmental impact than where it was produced. That shifts some responsibility back to consumers. The image that stayed with me most is the transformation of an old Shanghai spinning mill into an art gallery and café. A space that once depended on low-wage factory work now supports a different kind of economy. The race didn’t disappear, it moved. Wages rose, production shifted, and the region changed.

I think the ending leaves us with an uncomfortable but important insight. The race to the bottom is real, and it can be exploitative. However, history suggests it doesn’t stay in one place forever. Standards rise, economies diversify, and what once looked like the “bottom” becomes something else.The system isn’t simple. It’s not purely good or purely bad. It keeps moving. After reading this, I don’t think I’ll ever look at a cotton T-shirt in quite the same way. What seems simple and inexpensive actually reflects centuries of industrial change, shifting labour systems, and global competition. It makes me more conscious of how easily I treat clothing as temporary. I’m not sure there’s a simple solution, but I do feel personally more responsible for the choices I will make as a consumer.

Travels of a T-shirt - Part 1

 In the first part of the book Travels of a T-shirt in the Global Economy we are presented the ideas of trade politics, power and development, with examples from Texas to China. The idea is that a simple product like a T-shirt can represent a complex and enormous system, with a political base, not just economic as many would believe. 

At first, we have a perspective on Texas cotton farms, one of the most productive enterprises in the world. Although they bring enormous revenue, these farms are also very subsidized, which means that they have a lot of incentives from its government, billions of dollars that allow these farms to keep thriving. When comparing these cotton farms to the ones in West Africa, we see unbalanced chances in the so-called "free" market. The author challenges the term free, indicating that this freedom does not mean that every State has the same opportunities, but their governments shape this market. She also makes the point that by having this impact in the economy, the cotton farmers have a lot of political influence, even being a small group of people. They have the advantage of being organized and influential, and this shapes their economy more than simply money. 

 Then, Rivoli brings China to the center of the discussion, once the cotton produced in U.S. is exported to China. She presents questioning, trying to answer why the cotton is sent to a foreign factories and not national ones. We are present to the process in where China became a world factory, when opened its economy and allowed cheap labor and a exportation-focused economy. Pietra talks about the difficult labor conditions, but compares to the absolute poverty in rural environments, where the situation could be even worse, then presenting that the cheap labor is for many people a good option, from their perspective. For China, this system is a opportunity to win jobs, for U.S., a opportunity to win products for a cheap price. For African farmers or U.S. producers, there is more losing than wining, in this uneven market. 

The author show that our free-market is not a natural structure, but heavily political and influenced by authors like WTO. She also expresses that it is hard to point the bad/good actors, since if U.S. stop the subsidies its population would be the group to suffer, and similarly, if the China's factories are closed, many will be devastated without jobs.  

Travels of a T-shirt in the Global Economy pgs 1-140

In the first 140 pages of the book, Travels of a T-shirt in the Global Economy, I have learned many things about how t-shirts are made and used around the world. While the clothing we see in the current period is expensive, the process all clothes go through before being placed on shelves or online stores to be purchased. They go through a massive complex system, and the author explains it by bringing it all the way back to cotton fields in West Texas in pgs 20-40. I discovered that Lubbock, Texas, is one of the largest cotton-producing regions in the country. The area Lubbock resides in is flat, wide-open land that allows easy access to produce cotton on a large-scale. 

After reading pages 45-60, it made me realize how heavily cotton farmers depend on the US government. This is so that they can remain financially stable to continue producing all their raw fiber. Now I understand how politics might tie with the cotton industry within the United States. 

In pages 70-110, the author covers factories in China and how they collect cotton from farms like Lubbock and turn it into clothing. Once the cotton is received, employers spin it into yarn to be knitted to create pieces of fabric. Afterwards, these fabric pieces are then sewn together to create the clothing that all humans wear. Rivoli made it clear to readers that China had become the world's leading clothing manufacturer while the book was being written. This didn't surprise me at all, as China has become the world's second-largest economy today. Once these clothes are made, they are ready to be shipped out to other wealthier nations such as the US and Europe. 

While reading through the last few sections of the book, I learned what happens to most clothes once they are worn and used by many citizens. When citizens discard their T-shirts, they are shipped out to developing countries such as Africa. They go towards people who don't have the money to afford purchasing new clothes that have never been worn before. This shows readers like me that a T-shirt has a long history, even after you throw it away. I personally never realized that they are then given to other children and families in need; I thought they were just thrown in the dumpster and later burned. Overall, the first half of this book has definitely changed my perception of how t-shirts are made and where they go after I stop wearing them or outgrow them. 

Chapter 20 & 21 and TAL

Having read Chapter 20 by James Fallows I think my view on where everyday products come from has completely changed. He describes China’s factories as “the most startling and intense aspect of today’s China,” and the scale is almost impossible to imagine. I definitely found it interesting to discover that more than 100 million people work in factories across the country. In the Guangdong province alone many have more manufacturing workers than the entire United States did at one time. That statistic alone is huge. What stood out most to me though was Shenzhen’s transformation. In 1980, it was a small fishing village. After being named a Special Economic Zone nearly every rule that might restrict business development was changed or removed. Within a few decades, it became a massive city filled with skyscrapers and factories. The speed of that growth shows how powerful economic reform and global investment can truly be especially in such a short amount of time. 

Fallows also explains that behind this growth are millions of young migrant workers who are simply looking for “the new life” in cities like Shenzhen. They end up working long hours through tough conditions but for many of them, these factory jobs mean an opportunity and a way out the rural poverty they are stuck within. I think if huge misconception within this reading is that so many people often assume China’s advantage as cheap labor and we see this when a businessman simply said “People think China is cheap, but really, it’s fast.” The real strength of China’s growth and economy lies deeper within the speed, flexibility and tightly connected supply chains within its country. I think the biggest thing I have realised since reading this chapter is that I don’t think I can look at a “Made in China” label the same way. It came to light to me that China doesn’t just manufacture products, it does so much more than that. It has built a system that powers the global economy and continues to do so. I wouldn’t be surprised if over time it also continues to grow worldwide. There’s so much more we don’t see behind the “Made in China” logo. 

Reading about Nike and the global trainer industry definitely changed how I see brands. I used to think Nike’s success was mainly about simply producing stylish trainers and famous athletes. However, the chapter explains that Nike’s real strength comes from controlling design, marketing, and advertising, while most of the shoes are actually made overseas. One thing that surprised me was how quickly the trainer market grew in the 1980s. In fact, sales in the United States tripled between 1980 and 1990 reaching $12 billion. The main buyers were teenagers and trainers then started to become a symbol of ones status. By 1991, basketball shoes made up 22% of sales and it was then clear that it was no longer just about sport but was primarily about image.

Instead of owning factories, Nike focused on branding. As one executive said, “We are marketers and designers.” Most Nike shoes were made in countries like South Korea, Taiwan, China, and Indonesia, where wages were lower. As a result of this, costs were kept down while Nike were able to stay in control of the most profitable parts of their business.

The launch of Air Jordan was a major turning point. The first pairs sold out in just three days, and the partnership with Michael Jordan turned trainers into cultural icons. At this point Nike was not just selling shoes but was also selling identity and confidence for young individuals who looked up to these sport stars. However, the chapter also points out problems. Nike kept moving production to countries with cheaper labour which therefore raised concerns about working conditions. It made me realise that behind all well known brands there is always a more complicated global system.

After reading this chapter, just like China, I do not see Nike in the same way. The swoosh is not just a logo but it represents so much more such as a worldwide network. It shows that companies often make the most money not by producing goods themselves but by controlling the image and story behind them.

Overall, the readings show that globalisation is powerful and complex. Since WW2, trade and production have connected countries into one global economy but continuous growth and risk spread together, as seen in the 2008 financial crisis. China’s rise shows how manufacturing moved to fast growing industrial areas helping to lift millions out of poverty while also being able to supply Western consumers. Globalisation  itself creates opportunities but also spreads problems just as quickly as growth. In my opinion it seems to connect the world but not on fair terms. 

In the TAL episode, it is portrayed how Cambodia tried to grow its clothing industry by improving factory conditions and treating workers more fairly. After rebuilding from years of war, Cambodia depended heavily on garment factories for jobs. They hoped that by having better labor standards that big companies would choose to make their clothes there. However, something that stood out to me was how unfair the situation felt. Even though Cambodia was trying to do the right thing I think it was clear that they were still struggling. Their electricity prices are very high, which makes it even more expensive and difficult to produce clothing. Other countries can sell clothes for less money, even if their working conditions are worse. This made me realise how much the global market actually seems to focus on price over people and it doesn’t seem fair in my opinion. I also found the part about the Cambodian officials traveling to Washington interesting. They made cold calls to members of US Congress asking for a special trade deal in order to lower taxes on their clothing. This seems very desperate of them in my opinion and like they were trying everything they could to save jobs for their workers. Overall, this podcast act made me think about how complicated global trade is. Cambodia tried to be ethical by the looks of it but that alone wasn’t enough to compete. It made me question whether companies and governments truly value fair labor practices or if money usually comes first.

Chapters 20, 21, TAL Podcast

       Chapter 20 provided an interesting insight into the operations of Chinese factories. It showed how a large part of China's success as a global superpower comes from their manufacturing and their exports, which is something I knew prior to reading this chapter. However, I did not realize how dependent certain groups of people were on these factory jobs, and how they can assist in helping them escape rural poverty. This made the manufacturing industry seem all the more sinister when just a few lines later, you learn that most of the employees are young women, and that casualties in the workplace are so common that they are seen as relatively insignificant. Not to mention that the Chinese factories are praised for being fast by businessmen like Liam Casey while a description of a typical workday at one of these factories shows us that this fastness is at the grueling expense of their employees

      The bar graph in Chapter 21 analyzing the increase in revenue for athletic footwear shows the steady percentage shares of Nike through the 80s, but also the booming increase in shares of Reebok in the late 80s to early 90s. This demonstrates the shifts in consumer trends brought up in the chapter with shifting trends in the athletic footwear market, with brands like Reebok and LA Gear surpassing Nike in becoming the more effective brands at marketing to the aerobics side of the market. When I think of Nike, my mind goes to sports like basketball and track and field, so it makes sense to see that when other forms of exercise like aerobics had a boom in the 80s, Nike was unable to compete in the market and was surpassed by these other brands. 

Chapters 20, 21 + TAL Podcast -- Wyatt Rambo

 While reading through Chapter 20, "China Makes, the World Takes", the fact that the deaths of the 32 Chinese steel workers wasn't deemed nearly as important that other events that happen in the US is very bothersome. Additionally, calling a reason for concern about how and where products are created the "Nike problem", in reference to the fact that Nike has barely any inclusion in their items' production, and are mainly a brand slapped on, along with the methods of which the items are produced, personally makes me laugh.

Observing the graph in Chapter 21, the one showing the trend of Nike vs. Reebok in terms of % of sales and shares, one can note the slow decline in popularity for Nike, as well as the rapid rise in popularity for Reebok. For three years, Reebok had actually overtaken Nike in this, gaining billions of dollars in revenue. This may be because of the potential backlash given to Nike for their methods of production, in addition to Reebok's being generally higher quality than Nike's, albeit more pricey.

Chapter 20,21+Podcast

 Chapter 20 focuses heavily on China and its massive economic growth over the past few decades. China became a global powerhouse mainly through manufacturing and electronics production, with many foreign companies outsourcing production there because labor is cheaper and supply chains are extremely efficient. The chapter also highlights the human cost of that growth — factory workers, often young women from rural areas, work long hours in difficult or unsafe conditions just to support themselves and their families. Even though the conditions can be harsh, these jobs still attract workers because they offer income and the possibility of moving up economically. China’s speed, infrastructure, and concentration of factories also give it a huge advantage over other countries when it comes to producing goods quickly.

Chapter 21 builds on this by explaining Global Commodity Chains (GCCs), which describe how products are designed, produced, and distributed across multiple countries. The chapter uses Nike as a major example — shoes are designed in the U.S., but manufactured in countries like China where labor costs are lower. This allows companies to keep consumer prices relatively affordable while maximizing profit. The chapter also discusses how shoe consumption grew in the early 1900s, especially among young people interested in sports and fitness, showing how culture and marketing play a role in global production systems.

The This American Life episode focuses on Cambodia and its economic struggles after the civil war. The country rebuilt much of its economy through garment factories, which provided higher wages and benefits compared to many traditional jobs. However, Cambodia’s progress was disrupted when global trade rules changed in 2005. The end of the quota system under the World Trade Organization and agreements like the Multi-Fiber Arrangement meant Cambodia suddenly had to compete directly with much larger producers like China. This shows how poorer countries often depend heavily on decisions made by wealthier nations, and how quickly economic stability can disappear when global policies shift.

Chapter readings 20, 21, and TAL Podcast

 Chapter 20 was a rather depressing but non-surprising chapter to read. It talks a lot about the working conditions in China and how they, along with a few other factors, make it the easiest and cheapest way for American and UK companies to produce their products there. There are millions of manufacturing jobs within China, and this is a big appeal for Chinese citizens who live in rural areas because it offers them a chance to make real money and possibly move up class wise. This encourages them to spend a few years at least in one of these jobs despite their horrible working conditions. Another benefit China has in manufacturing over many other parts of the world is their speed at getting products made, shipping, and moving raw materials. Everything is kept very close together or there are incredibly fast transportation routes between major hubs. This allows for China to get things done/made in a fraction of the time it would take other countries.

Chapter 21 expands a lot on the previous chapter. It talks about China still but in the context of a very large world-wide example, Nike. The way Nike was able to grow so much as a brand and become internationally recognized was through advertising and culture but through incredibly smart, though less than ethical, outsourcing of manufacturing to the cheapest bidder.

The part of the podcast episode we were assigned to listen to was also expectantly depressing. Cambodia was left behind by the United States, we gave them every reason to have high quality labor rights and they followed through with that having some of the best labor rights in the world. And instead of rewarding them and continuing to offer them good deals for it we left their whole country in a place where their only possible option to keep their economy alive would be to get rid of those labor rights. I wonder why the United States ended the deal and didn’t continue with it. I didn’t see a reason for it mentioned in the podcast and I’m very curious. Why was our government caring about human labor rights one day and leaving an entire country's labor force in the dust the next?

Chapters 20, 21, & TAL

    Chapter 20 talks about how rapid manufacturing growth in China, especially in Shenzhen, completely reshaped the city and the lives of the people who moved there. The population grew almost a hundred times larger in just a few decades, which is honestly hard to picture when comparing it to cities here in the United States. That kind of growth doesn’t just happen randomly. It started when China loosened many labor regulations and controls in order to attract foreign investors and manufacturers. By removing certain restrictions, they made it easier and cheaper for global companies to set up factories there. From an economic standpoint, this clearly worked. The city grew quickly, foreign capital poured in, and China strengthened its position in the global manufacturing market.
    However, that growth did not benefit everyone equally. While investors and business owners profited heavily, factory workers often paid the price. Long hours, low wages, and unsafe working conditions became normal for many of the people employed in these factories. It looked like progress from the outside, but for a lot of workers, life was still really difficult. So while some people clearly benefited from the boom, others definitely bore the cost of it. What stood out to me in this chapter was how it didn’t just celebrate economic growth. It forced us to look at the human consequences that come with that kind of rapid development.
    Chapter 21 builds on this idea by explaining global commodity chains and using Nike as a main example. Nike was struggling in the shoe industry and decided to outsource a large portion of its production to Asian countries like Japan, China, and Korea. These countries had fewer labor protections and lower wages compared to the United States, which allowed Nike to produce shoes faster and at a much lower cost. The chapter mentioned how Nike even opened facilities in New Hampshire at one point, but they eventually had to close them because shoes made overseas dominated the market. This really shows how powerful global competition can be.
    Outsourcing labor helped Nike grow because it reduced production expenses and allowed the company to spend more money on branding and marketing. Instead of investing heavily in domestic factories, Nike focused on advertising and building its image. That strategy clearly worked in terms of profit. At the same time, though, workers in manufacturing countries were often left in unstable situations. Once wages began to rise in one country, companies could simply move production somewhere cheaper. This creates a cycle where labor is treated as replaceable. It ties back to what we have been discussing about foreign investment not always benefiting the host country in the long term. In many cases, it mainly benefits the corporations and investors.
    The TAL episode about Cambodia showed a similar pattern but on a smaller national scale. After years of civil war, Cambodia opened its economy to foreign garment investment in hopes of rebuilding. Within about ten years, roughly 250 factories were established. At first, this probably felt like real progress. Jobs were being created, and the country was participating in the global market. However, when their trade agreement with the United States ended in 2005, Cambodia was put in a vulnerable position. Their labor standards were more relaxed than some competing countries, but they still struggled to compete once the agreement ended. Many workers were pushed deeper into poverty.
    One detail that really stuck with me was the woman in the podcast explaining that factory workers could only afford one gram of pork for lunch. That small detail says a lot about how little they were earning. It shows that while globalization may bring factories and investment, it does not automatically bring stable prosperity for workers. Efforts to get the U.S. government to pass legislation to support least developed countries in Asia were unsuccessful, leaving Cambodia largely on its own.
    Across these three examples, there is a clear pattern. Rapid growth and foreign investment can create economic expansion, but the benefits are uneven. Corporations and investors often gain the most, while workers deal with unstable wages and harsh conditions. There’s short-term growth and visible progress, but long-term stability for workers doesn’t seem guaranteed at all.

Chapter 20, 21, TAL

 Chapter 20 has a focus on the economic and industrial expansion in China and the large role it played in changing some forms of globalization. China's major growing force was mostly export based, foreign investment, and manufacturing. China kind of pushed away from agricultural jobs and started leaning to offering cheap manufacturing of goods to be exported throughout the world. This rapid development of manufactures offering cheaper labor pulled in many outside large corporations who abused this power. Later in the chapter it talks about the social effects this can have on communities which can be detrimental. These shifts often require long hours, extremely strict rules, and low wages. This is something that may not be thought of when buying a product . I think this chapter gives an understanding of the abuse some outside corporations cause just to get things on the shelf for a maximum profit. 

Chapter 21 focuses on GCCs and how different countries across the globe deal with how things are produced. Giving examples such as Nike who outsource their product manufacturing to sell to “richer” nations at a high price. The idea of this for the companies is strictly for larger profit margins. This shows that yes globalization does connect foreign economies to one another but it does not equal fairness in that process. 

TAL gives insight on the garment industry in Cambodia. In the early 2000s Cambodia was receiving decent wages and benefits for their extremely export dependent textile industry. Their main partnerships were with many United States companies, but this all changed when China came in and was offering way cheaper manufacturing on these goods. This caused Cambodia to fall behind and basically make the decision to try to keep up with capitalism or keep the moral compass they had for their laborers.

Ch 20,21 and TAL

 Chapter 20 was mostly centered around China and it's massive growth, and how that changed both global economy and it's own growth. China has devolped into a major player in the global economy due to it's electronics and manufacturing businesses. It grew so large through outsourcing, since many countries go to China to produce products or parts in it's countless factories. In these factories, they use low labor costs to keep production cheap. These low labor costs are great for foreign companies in the US, but for the actual workers, conditions are often dangerous and laboring.

Chapter 21 spoke about Global Commodity Chains a.k.a GCCs, and how they produce, manufacture, and distribute products globally across countries. The chapter specfically focuses on shoes during the 1900s, which experienced a large increase in purchases mostly amoung young people. Nike used these GCCs to design shoes in the US, then send the design to countries like China for them to make the shoes for cheaper due to low labor costs. With this, Nike keeps costs low while increasing profit.

In the TAL episode it mostly talks about how Cambodia's economy was on a fast decline after it's civil war, which caused great strain on the country. However, Cambodia started to pull itself up using things like garment factories, which gave higher wages than most jobs along with other benefits. Then, the US's trade policies stopped this growth, causing Cambodia's economy to start struggling yet again. Poorer countries are very much at the whim of richer countries and their economies hang on to the richer countries decisions.

Chs. 20, 21, and TAL

 Chapter 20 discusses how rapid manufacturing growth in China, speficially Shenzen, has affected its identity as a labor market and the people who live there. The author talked about the population growing a hundredfold over just a few decades, which is crazy to think about when you compare it to the cities we have here in the states. The growth was set in movement when a lot of parameters and controls on labor were removed in order to welcome foreign investors in to set up shop. This growth did drive the economy forward and create a lot of benefits for the people who profitted the most, but it negatively impacted the residents who had to work in the factories. Long work days and weeks, minimal pay, and hazardous environments cause a lot of harm to the Chinese who work there. I think this chapter does a great job at highlighting both sides of the coin. On one side there is massive economic growth, and on the other side is major damage to humans.

Chapter 21 discusses the concept of global commodity chains, using Nike as the primary example. Nike was falling behind in the shoe industry, so they outsourced a lot of their production to Asian countries like Japan, China, Korea, etc. These locations had less regulation in terms of labor, which allowed more porducts to be made and at a quicker rate than they would in the United States alone. The author discussed a time when Nike opened up facilities in New Hampshire but were forced to close them because shoes produced in Asia completely dominated the market. Outsourcing labor is a factor that contributes to why corporations like Nike can grow so much. They don't have to invest as much into production in the US, which frees up more capital to be invested in marketing the products to consumers. The downside of this technique is that the people whose labor is used are basically taken advantage of. Once a major company has invested enough money into a manufacturing country, the cost of labor goes up, which in turn causes the corporation to relocate. This ties back to what we talked about week with foreign investment not actually benefitting the host country, only the investors.

The TAL episode discussed the situation in Cambodia's economy over the course of their foreign investment period. Previous to this, there was a civil war that disrupted the population and economy. They opened their doors to foreign garment investment afterwards, leading to an increase of 250 factories over a 10 year period. Their agreement with the United States ended in 2005, which put them in a precarious situation because their labor laws were more relaxed compared to competitor countries. Their people struggled greatly and many were pushed further into poverty. The woman in the podcast said that factory workers would only be able to purchase 1 gram of pork for their lunch, which shows the drastic differences between life before and after the deal ended. Attempts to lobby the US government to pass a bill to aid LDCs in Asia were not successful. This is yet another example of a country that has experienced "benefits" of globalization only to find out that the downsides hit them even harder once they are on their own. I think this trend will persist over the course of the semester as we learn about more places affected by globalization.

Chapters 20, 21 and TAL

 The chapters of this week brought even more knowledge about globalization. Chapter 20 brings visions about China, and how important It is for the global economy, and especially because of its massive manufacturing centers, that produce tons and diverse goods.  Globalization helped China to increase its economy by allowing them to sell cheap labor, big factories and efficient production. China have a lot of gains with that specially because it’s giving more jobs to their population and allowing them to trade in the international economy. However, in the chapter we see that this situation also has its cons for the population, like exploitation of labor, environmental problems, and global dependence in Chinese production, which can become a problem for countries like US if they don’t want to deal with China anymore. They would be very endangered of losing products that they are in need for, factoring that they are dependent of, and all the things that China made it possible by being "sticky" as well. To end, the chapter shows us a China that is a central country in globalization and that does this thru manufacturing massively.

Chapter 21 talks about not a country but a company, and in this case Nike. To show how Nike and other companies works, the chapter uses the term "commodity chains", which means a network of labor, distribution and producing, to provide a final product to the buyers. The chapters talks about how Nike does not produce their own shoes, but they make their production in factories on countries that they can pay a much lower wage, and by that they can spend their money on design, marketing, and on their brand. The chapter shows us how Nike spends so much in the parts there are important to them, like their global image, but let their workers working in poor working conditions, sometimes not even being able to buy a Nike shoe (even with a month of work). This particular case is about Nike, but it shows how multinationals make profit from this commodity chains, while the countries that provide products have labor risks, and poor environments. We know that globalization can be a good thing, but when companies like Nike uses it only to make profit, ignoring their workers that are making their shoes and products, globalization stops being something good, and became something unequal and socially damaged.

Act2 of the TAL, puts these two chapters in one idea. It tells the history of Cambodia industry of garments, and how they tried to compete with the power of capitalism and had a hard time. In the early 2000s, Cambodia was very dependent of exports and enjoyed the special trade access that US gave them. They also wanted to protect their workers with labor laws like paying overtime, maternity leave... the basic things that make the workers humans. This brought a lot of people that wanted to work and grown the industry. Unfortunately, when this benefits ended, Cambodia could not compete with countries, like China, and it was not exclusively the only country to work with garments, but it was one that wanted to maintain the labor laws. Competing with countries that not necessarily care for their workers gave Cambodia a hard time because they had more costs than others, only by trying to respect rights. The David and Goliath analogy shows Cambodia being the David, having problems to fight the Goliath. Goliath being the global capitalism and these countries you cannot overpower if you want to respect rules and they don't. 

Chapters 20, 21, and TAL

     Chapter 20 was essentially based around China and how it was able to rapidly transform not only its own economy, but also its global impact.  It's interesting that the author also is somewhat able to predict becoming a significant global player because of its strong export power because that's what China's become today.  Outsourcing is a key part as to why China has grown into what it has become today.  Factory towns are essential for China in terms of outsourcing, and if they didn't use the cheap labor methods that they had used, they may not be as a significant player in the global economy.

    Chapter 21 focuses mainly on GCCs and how different commodities are manufactured and shipped between countries.  Athletic shoes had a boom starting in the 1980s, and continued well through the 90s as well, particularly among teenagers.  Nike took advantage of this "fitness boom" in the late 70s early 80s.  Although Nike did benefit greatly during this time, there was controversy about how they got the money, as money from drugs and gangs became a talking point.

    The TAL episode talks primarily about the struggle that poorer countries (such as Cambodia) have when trying to grow in the global market.  Wages of workers in these countries is also important as well, as more established countries will move elsewhere with production if the wage they have to pay gets too high.  Countries such as Cambodia suffered significantly, as they had dealt with a civil war that resulted in the loss of over 1 million people.

Ch 20,21

 These chapters highlight the importance of China and other Asian countries in the manufacturing process of many products that are sold in America and around the world. Chinese manufacturers employ many people and few machines, and are located close to suppliers. This means that when a product needs be changed quickly, it is cheaper for it to be done in a Chinese factory because human hands can operate quicker than obtaining new machines, and different materials can be delivered within the day. This explains why many US companies manufacture their products in China.

Chapter 21 spoke specifically about Nike and its marketing strategies and commodity chains. The most interesting part of this chapter to me was about supply chain confidentially and Nike’s use of luck and market trends. As with any company, you need to convince consumers why they should buy your product, so you have to create a market for it. Nike used contracts with athletes and alliances with Footlocker to get their product out there. This chapter, to me, was more interesting than the others I’ve read so far.

     These two chapters, to me, just digs a little deeper on how globalization effects other countries through global corporations and the effects it has on the global economy with years of big corporations participating in globalization and spreading their manufacturing plants. In chapter 20 Fallows explained how China's rapid growth economically reshaped their countries society and presence in the global economy. Over decades the city of Shenzhen has helped China grow their society and economy because big corporations are able to find cheap labor and find a factory that can make their product. Since multiple million dollar companies keep going into china to produce their product, it helped China growth in the technology they produced, the expansion of manufacturing plants, and better infrastructure. This chapter also speaks about how China gaining more power with manufacturing is effecting the people that live there. The people that work at those manufacturing plants have to take long drives to get to work, work long hours, and don't get paid good at all. Chapter 21 mainly explains how global commodities work. This chapter explains how companies like NIKE and Reebok maximize profits by outsourcing their materials, getting the product made for cheap in another country. They also maximize profits by learning and targeting groups of people. For example NIKE's biggest spending group is teenagers, so they make and target to sell their shoes to teens. Those companies are also in control of advertising and marketing which is also another way NIKE targets a certain group of buyers to maximize profits while cutting costs on where its made and how much it costs to make it.

20, 21, TAL

         These chapters highlight how one nation’s economic problems can affect multiple other nations’ economies around the world. This shows that interconnectedness, although helpful at times, can create serious risks like the 2008 financial bubble. This began as a financial crisis in the U.S. and quickly turned into a global recession. Because so many nations rely on each other, a downturn in one major economy can trigger widespread consequences. Since it is highly unlikely for every nation to remain financially stable at all times, it’s  inevitable that another global economic crisis will occur. 

            In Chapter 20, Fallows explains how China’s rapid rise has transformed both its own society and the global economy. Over the past few decades, China has experienced major growth in technology, manufacturing, and overall economic power. While many people in the United States recognize this shift, Fallows emphasizes that China’s influence extends far beyond its borders and impacts the world as a whole. The chapter also explores the human cost of this industrial expansion, especially for factory workers. Many women travel long distances and work extended hours in demanding and sometimes unsafe conditions just to earn enough to support themselves and their families. Despite these challenges, this growth has made China a central force in globalization.

Chapter 21 focuses on Global Commodity Chains (GCCs) and how products are designed, manufactured, and distributed across multiple countries. The chapter discusses the rise in shoe consumption in the United States during the early 1900s, especially among young people who were interested in fitness and sports. It also explains how companies like Nike operate within global supply chains. While products are designed in the U.S., manufacturing is outsourced to countries such as China to take advantage of lower labor costs. This strategy allows companies to maximize profits while maintaining affordable prices for consumers.     

In the TAL episode, the main focus is Cambodia’s struggle and gradual economic recovery. The country faced devastating losses during its civil war, along with the destruction of its middle class and severe environmental hardships. Over time, Cambodia began rebuilding its economy by opening garment factories, which became a major source of employment and growth. Factory jobs offered higher wages than many traditional professions and included benefits such as maternity leave and pay increases. However, in 2005, changes in U.S. trade policies disrupted Cambodia’s progress, leaving its economy vulnerable and forcing it to compete with larger and more established countries. This placed a lot of strain on Cambodia’s fragile economic system.

22, 21, TAL post

     This weeks readings focused on how the interconnection of the worlds economy also allows for economic problems from one nation to effect all nations around the world. This is and issue that I have never really thought about much since it seems that the interconnection of all the worlds economies tends to be a good thing for everyone involved, but in this scenario it tends to be detrimental to many of the world economies. For example to 2008 housing crisis sent America into a recession that collapsed its economy and effected every part of Americans lives, but this then extended out to almost every economy in the world because of how connected this world is, meaning that our economic crash ended up crashing the world's economy. I really believe this makes our world economy very fragile, as one little dip in any major economy can essentially dip the rest of the world with it, so we have to make sure that all the countries are doing okay financially. But this is impossible to maintain all the time and means that we are destined to have a world economic collapse at some point because of one country.   

    To be completely honest I did struggle to fully understand the TAL episode but here is what I took away. The small guys have to struggle and fight to compete with the giants of the industries, which forces them to either shut down or cut down on proper business practices, leading to worse conditions for the workers. This really limits the smaller guys ability to grow and become a giant leading to fight for power and equality.  

TAL episode, Chapters 20 & 21

In chapter 20 of 'The Globalization Reader', Fallows, the author, argues that China's rise in power has reshaped its entire country and global wealth. The readings tell us that China has grown so much over the last few decades with its technology, factories, and economy. While many US citizens are aware that this is going on, he emphasizes that the seizure of control has been affecting a global sense, not just a national sense. The author gave examples, one of which is the monumental productions China has worked on for the Pearl River Delta. It's the world's largest and most densely populated area globally. Its population growth has been skyrocketing, prompting China to take action. Chapter 20 also talks about the human aspect of China's industrial boom. Fallows explained how women commute far to work, and work extra long hours just to make enough money. Factory life isn't easy, and can be dangerous. Though some individuals need the money to survive on basic needs. Overall, this chapter summarizes how China, over the past few decades, has become integral to globalization. 

Chapter 21 describes how GCC's (Global Commodity Chains) have established, produced, distributed, and organized globally. In the early 1900's, the United States saw an increase in shoe purchases. A large number of this was driven by teenagers and young adults who were into fitness and staying active. The article also talked about how Nike has been established. Its products are designed by companies here in the US, then sent to Asian countries like China, where they are made to be shipped back to the US for retail. They do this to rely on cheaper overseas labor while also increasing profits. 

When listening to 'The American Life Podcast: Act 2: Dreams of a Distant Factories', I felt like the main point the podcast was trying to tell readers was that Cambodia has been through a lot. They struggled very early on; 1 in 2 million died during the civil war for their country, the middle class was slaughtered, and they were experiencing a huge drought. Then, after a while, the country was able to get back on its feet and began opening garment factories. These factories were the key to Cambodia's success. Those employed got very high pay rates, even higher than what a police officer or a teacher made. They were given many vacation days, roughly 3 months of maternity leave, and an increase in salaries. Everything was going very well for Cambodia, until 2005 when the US cut the system Cambodia was attached to. The country was left in an awkward situation. Cambodia's poor and fragile economy began competing with larger, stronger economies. 

Chapters 22, 27, 33 - Julia Cruz Santana

Those chapters were not just full of important information, but also new ideas and considerations that make the reader think again about the world they live in. Chapter 22 brings a insight about U.S.' economy that a lot of people don't think about it, the amount of influence U.S. has in the global economy. The rise of China is a reality, but can we already consider U.S. a loser? I have to say no, and I believe Friedman gives us just the why. The U.S. economy possibilities can be steady, but their influence in the international economy is really stinky. The author shows us how the agencies like IMF or WT have so much interference from U.S. that scares us with the "possibility of no return". For some countries, especially in Central America, is hard to imagine a economy without U.S., and it is because U.S. made sure that this was a reality. The "hope" is that "Other countries, led by China, will create their own defences, balkanising the rules of technology, trade and finance", like BRICS countries. 

Chapter 27 then brought an accurate definition of IMF, "a new form of the old colonial mentality". Stiglitz show us how Globalization had the possibility to be good, but when benefiting only a minor part, it became a new form of colonization. Similar to colonies, when in the agencies rules, poor countries can't live by themselves, but live to export to countries that can pay. Who is really benefiting from that globalization? Can we consider a coincidence that the countries that have the most power in these agencies are the ones that most import goods and benefit from less tariffs? I was amazed by the phrase “we in the North who run our capital markets, know best. Do what we tell you to do, and you will prosper.” because it is exactly this. The ego of this "developed" countries to the ones they consider inferior is offensive. It seems like they think that these economies are primitive or childish, needing a grown one to guide them. The big ones doesn't seem to remember that many of these countries became a country only 50 years ago. It is sad that U.S,' founding fathers made a constitution to prevent tyranny in their land, but couldn't predict that they themselves could be the tyrants of the world. 

To end, Chapter 33 show important intel in the real effects of IMF. The lack of statistical significance of IMF 's benefits is simply crazy, any social experiment would be closed with that statistics. Maybe 100 years from now historians will talk about this international agency that disguised as helpful but really just used the good intentional to penetrate other economies. "Not surprisingly, the IMF is well known throughout the developing world – to the elites and the masses alike. The organization often appears to exercise as much or even more authority than their own governments" this quote from the author show us how similar to colonization this agencies can act, and this chapter shows hows the intentions of helping the countries became the blockages that no country asked for or apparently can benefit from. 

Chapter's 22, 27, and 33 - TYLER PRIVLER

 After reading Chapter's 22, 27, and 33; this is what I have to say for each chapter.

Chapter 22, The Sticky Superpower, changed how I see American power. Before reading it, I thought power was mostly about how much a country produces or how large its GDP is. I didn’t really think beyond that. This chapter made me realize power is way more complicated than I thought. Even though the United States’ share of global production is shrinking, it still has a lot of influence because of its control over finance, technology, and especially the U.S. dollar. I didn’t realize how much power comes from the dollar being the world’s main reserve currency or how much impact the Federal Reserve has when it changes interest rates. At first, this confused me because it felt contradictory — how can the U.S. be declining in some ways but still remain so powerful? I’m still trying to fully understand that. At the same time, I question how long that kind of power can last, especially if countries like China continue growing and developing their own financial systems.

Chapter 27 explains the impact the IMF has on other countries, especially poorer ones. The IMF often acts like it knows what’s best and sets strict spending limits that countries have to follow in order to receive financial help. If a country is struggling financially, it can’t get support unless it agrees to follow the IMF’s rules — rules that more powerful countries don’t have to follow in the same way. The chapter suggests that the IMF limits a country’s financial and national freedom, which I agree with. Even though the IMF sounds helpful in theory, it can actually end up keeping countries stuck in debt. When the IMF steps in, it gains a lot of control over how that country manages its money, almost like a second government. Instead of fully helping countries recover, it can trap them in a cycle that’s hard to escape.

Chapter 33 made me feel more mixed about the IMF. It does seem like the IMF can help fix balance-of-payments crises and stabilize economies in the short term. But at the same time, it seems like IMF programs can slow growth and make inequality worse. It feels like the IMF can provide quick relief, but sometimes at the cost of long-term fairness. I was also surprised by how political the IMF is, especially since powerful countries like the United States have more influence over decisions. It doesn’t seem completely fair. The documentary we watched about Jamaica and banana exports also connects to this. Jamaica produces around 90,000 tonnes of bananas but doesn’t have proper access to the American market because they are legally binded to sell to UK (more specifically England), and IMF-related debt and policies seem to play a role in that situation.

Chapter readings 22, 27, and 33

 Chapter 22 talks a lot about the United States as a global superpower, primarily in an economic sense. There are a lot of figures and statistics about the United States involvement in the economy but overall they say that while the United States has been the hegemony with global GDP and with trade since around WWII, when it overtook Britain. It also talks about how the United States is possibly being overtaken as the hegemony by China or will be in the coming years. The transition of the U.S. overtaking Britain went pretty smooth because we were allies but there are a lot of theories as to how this possible new transition of economic power will go because China and the U.S. are far from being allies. I also like how this chapter covers the effect the U.S. has on other countries just because of the power they hold and not because of conscious action they take but because everything the U.S. does has an effect on everyone else.

Chapter 27 is a lot similar to chapter 2 in that most of what is said is about how globalism isn’t an inherently bad thing, it is the way people choose to abuse their power that makes globalism unfair and favors the rich more. This chapter also starts talking about the IMF and the ways that this organization abuses their power and ability to help out other countries financially to force them to follow their rules in order to gain help.

Chapter 33 focuses more on the effect the IMF has had on other countries, specifically developing ones that don't benefit from having power and money like the U.S. does. When countries need financial help it is more often than not the IMF that steps in to provide that help. But it doesn’t come for free, countries have to make a lot of changes to their economy in order to gain financial help from the IMF. For developing countries, the ones who are often the ones who need this help from the IMF, the rules that they are forced to follow set them up long term for even worse financial hardships. The changes they are forced to make to their economies make them more globalized, this ends up being great for richer countries, but weakens their own economies way more in return.

Chapter 22,27,33

 I didn’t realize how much America influences the world economy. Which also means I was unaware of how our dominance has been declining over the years. Finding out that the US doesn’t really listen to the IMF and WB all the time was news to me. I definitely think the US has a global economic responsibility that it clearly hasn’t been taking very seriously. This really just shows how much rich countries can get away with compared to poor ones.

Another thing that was very interesting was learning all the issues associated with the IMF. What do you mean countries who are helped by the International Monetary Fund typically don’t do well economically? The whole point of the IMF is to help the countries that ask for help — and the most successful countries reject market fundamentalism, which is literally the system the IMF pushes countries under it’s support to follow. I want to criticize the IMF but I don’t know enough about any of this to suggest better ideas. I can see the positives and negatives of the IMF’s policies much clearer now, even if I think the negatives seem to be overwhelming.

Chapter 22, 27, 33

 To me, chapter 22 mainly speaks about how influential America is to the world. America plays a big part in the world's collective knowledge of medicine, science, technology, entertainment, and finances. America may not interfere with the world's problems directly, they still have the ability to make powerful global decisions. Because America is so powerful and present in global operations, they can easily take another country under their wing and can impose rules they want in the hopes of "making that country prosper economically" with the IMF. This chapter also says that if the countries with power doesn't have their country under control, every nation that they "took under their wing" would be in the same situation as the more powerful country, if not the same situation, a worse situation. Chapter 27 describes the impact the IMF has on other countries. The IMF acts like they know what's best for poorer countries and sets spending limitations that country has to follow in order to receive help from the IMF. This means that if a country is really struggling financially, the IMF won't help them unless that country follows their specific rules, that the more powerful countries don't follow.  Chapter 27 also suggests that the IMF is an undemocratic system that limits countries financial freedoms and national freedoms which I agree with. Overall the IMF seems like a good idea that could help countries that really need it, but its a trap that limits a countries financial and national freedoms and keep that country in a state of debt that they ultimately can't get out of. When the IMF comes into a country they essentially become the "new government" because of how they monitor that countries spending. To me, The IMF is essentially trapping countries in a constant loop of debt and rewriting the basics of that country for their "prosperity."

Chapters 22, 27 and 33 - Phoebe

After reading Chapters 22, 27, and 33, I feel like I’m looking at the same global system from three different perspectives, and I’m still trying to connect them.

I would say Chapter 22, The Sticky Superpower, definetly changed how I now view American power. I initially thought power was solely about how much a country produces or how large their GDP is but this part of the reading showed me how it is so much more than that. The United States is still very powerful, even though its share of global production and GDP is shrinking. This is because other factors such as control over finance, technology, and in particular the dollar play such a crucial role in today’s society. The U.S. dollar being the world’s main reserve currency gives America a lot of influence automatically. I also didn’t realise how much power the Federal Reserve has when it changes interest rates. These concepts definetly confused me becasue I couldn’t really get my head around how the U.S can be declining yet still hold so much power. At the same time, I’m not completely sure this power will last forever because surely if China keeps growing and creating its own financial systems then won’t that just slowly weaken the U.S. dominance? 

In Chapter 27, I came across the similar idea already presented in a chapter from last week’s readings about globalisation and its management. This time it was Stiglitz who argues that globalisation itself isn’t the main problem but it’s how it has been managed, especially by the IMF. His example of developing countries being like “small boats in a rough sea” made the risks of opening financial markets too quickly very clear. I agreed with his point that we need to think about who benefits from globalisation and who carries the risks. It definetly added to my thought processes from when I read this in an earlier chapter as it confused me a little becasue it made me question how do we make globalisation fairer in practice?

Chapter 33 seemed to focus directly on the IMF. I would say I have a very mixed opinion after reading this chapter. It does seem that the IMF is actually good at fixing balance-of-payments crises, which helps stabilise struggling economies but the evidence also shows that IMF programs often slow economic growth and increase inequality. It seems as if the IMF can help in the short term, but often creates more long term problems for growth and fairness. It made me wonder if there’s a better way to stabilise economies without hurting the most vulnerable people. I also didn’t realise just how political the IMF is. It just does not seem fair to me that powerful countries such as the U.S have more influence, and how sometimes governments use IMF rules as an excuse to push through unpopular changes. This also was highlighted in the documentary we watched in class about Jamaica and the exports of Bananas. They do not have access to the American market despite creating 90,000 tonnes of Bananas and I believe that the IMF has something to do with this, probably becasue they owe millions. 

Overall, these readings helped me to understand some different elements within globalisation that make impacts such as the IMF but I would say some of it is still complicated to wrap my head around. It seems the IMF is very 50/50 as it creates power and growth but also inequality and tension. It does not seem like a very fair system to me and I’m left asking whether the negative effects are unavoidable or if they come from specific policy choices and political decisions with little that can be done to change this. 

Globalization of IKEA

 IKEA is a quite well-known company. According to their website, IKEA has a sort of "globally-inclusive" deal, where if a buyer doesn't have an IKEA in their country, they will actually ship it to you, through international borders. This means that almost anybody in the world can order any piece of furniture from IKEA and not have to worry that they wouldn't be able to obtain their desired items. For this IKEA has furthered their status as an international company. For almost a century, IKEA has been a global company, even from the first iteration of the company, even before it was a furniture retailer; and was simply a mailing company that sent mail worldwide. Being in over 60 countries worldwide, IKEA has truly become a globalized IP.