Topic 8: Debate on Globalization

Convergence is the idea that poorer economies per capita incomes will grow at faster rates than richer economies. In China and India, for example, their qualities of life improve rapidly over each decade. However, in more developed countries, they often grow slower. Globalization has costs and benefits. It has improved the quality of lives in many of the less developed countries. However, the costs are that the companies from other countries will take over the local companies and insinuate themselves into the country's political process. Globalization has already significantly changed my life in many ways. The Internet, the things I buy, the clothes I wear, and the Macbook I use are all results of globalization. Without globalization, I obviously wouldn't be speaking or typing English right now and I wouldn't be listening to all the English songs on radio. Taiwan is actually a country that has been greatly changed by globalization. Many advertisements and products in Taiwan are now exported from other countries. We have all the Hollywood movies in theaters and many people in Taiwan do and can speak English. I'm actually glad that globalization is happening in my life (although that would be biased to say so because I have never experienced the non-globalized Taiwan) so that I can be in touch with more resources in the world and become a more knowledgable person.