economic globalization
includes economic networks that are growing more interconnected, a worldwide market with actors unconstrained by political borders, and a reduction in state control over economies
multinational corporations (MNCs)
businesses with a large presence in countries in different regions of the world. MNCs increasingly dominate global markets and pose challenges to, and sometimes conflict with, domestic economic policies regarding labor, the environment, land rights, taxation, and the budget
special economic zones
areas in China (particularly along China's east coast) designated by the government as regions where private businesses could attract foreign direct investment
privatization
government-owned industries to businesses run with free-market forces that are owned + operated by private investors
nationalization
government-owned industries run without free-market forces
foreign direct investment
money invested in private businesses by individuals or a corporation outside of the country that can pose a challenge to a government's foundational economic and political ideas and principles
environmental degradation
environmental problems created by industrialization and other forms of economic development
international organizations
organizations joined by member states with a common interest such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank and the United Nations.
international monetary fund (IMF)
exerts great influence through preconditions for financial assistance; countries that receive IMF assistance often must agree to structural adjustment programs requiring privatization of state-owned companies, reduced tariffs, and reduced govt subsidies of domestic industries
supranational organizations
organizations in which member states grant the governing organization sovereignty over policies typically related to trade such as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the European Union (EU), and the World Trade Organization (WTO)
structural adjustment programs
neoliberal reforms often required by international organizations granting emergency loans to countries that require privatization of state-owned companies, reduced tariffs, and reduced governmental subsidies of domestic industries
tariffs
taxes imposed by a govt against imported goods
subsidies
government funding made to support domestic industries against foreign competition or to shape economic behaviors
import substitution industrialization (ISI)
policies aimed at reducing foreign dependency by raising tariffs and encouraging local production of industrialized products
austerity measures
governmental budget cuts and / or tax increases intended to decrease budget deficits and national debt; often required for IMF emergency loans
gender equity
civil rights ideal for women to be protected with equal treatment and to secure equal power as men in governing a country
maquiladora zones
areas of Mexico's manufacturing industry mostly located in northern Mexico; factories established to assemble parts imported from the United States for assembly in Mexico made more possible due to NAFTA. Contributed to greater economic development in the north than in the south, as well as other regional disparities.
rentier states
countries that obtain a sizable percentage of total government revenue from the export of oil and gas or from leasing the resource to foreign countries and have been able to raise standards of living and fund governmental programs based on their huge reserves
resource curse
countries that rely too heavily on the export of commodities face negative economic, political and environmental consequences
economic diversification
when a country is able to obtain economic balance between agriculture, manufacturing and service without over dependence on one commodity or economic sector.