Globalisation and Fragmentation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Globalisation and Fragmentation - Essay Example Nevertheless, certain fundamental questions come to mind regarding globalisation and how it addresses human need in this century. Even more important is the question as to how the world can fair on without the essentials of globalisation. Thomas Friedman in his book â€Å"The world is flat† argues on the account that globalisation is the only panacea to address the conflicts often realised in the world. He highlights the important case of the global supply chains through which goods and services reach people across the world irrespective of the manufacturing places (Friedman 586). It certainly does appear that globalisation has helped solve some of the conflicts that were often realised in the world in the early days. Indeed, the case of China and Taiwan presents a very chilling account of how this interrelatedness can help address conflicts in the world. The problems of this age have made countries across the world to be dependent on one another. As such, no country can effic iently survive on its own devices without support or trade from other countries. Conflicts are known to hinder the process of international relations and trade across the world. No country wants to lag behind as the whole world gets ahead in development through globalisation. It therefore implies that the global supply chains realised in the manufacturing processes and consumption of goods and services across the world. In the same vein, investment is normally a function of the favourable conditions existing in the country. Investment and business activities have made many countries to be friends on technical grounds. Countries that were once enemies like India and Pakistan have become friends courtesy of the relations brought by trade and investment supply chains. Friedman is certainly right in the argument that wars and conflicts can substantially be mitigated in the world through the proper management of globalization. Several cases across the world serve to prove this fundamenta l fact. Many countries have begun to realise the devastating effects of war and how a modern war becomes expensive to fund. In that regard, hitherto sour relations have been transformed into friendship for the benefit of the participating countries. Supply chains across the world have enabled business and production activities to thrive in many places. For instance, globalisation has enabled Dell to produce computers in many parts of the world which are then shipped across all corners of this world. As such, a country that benefits from globalisation might not want to jeopardise such favours merely by engaging in war with another country. Nevertheless, Friedman never fails to mention the devastating effects of globalisation and how the global supply chains can be used to bring terror and suffering to humanity. Terror gangs across the world basically rely on effective supply chains in different parts of the world from which coordination of terror activities takes place. These groups rely on efficient networks which are facilitated by the simplicities created by globalisation and the benefits of modern global systems to successfully manage and cause terror across the world while management and organisation is conducted from a centralized location. In a way, it confirms the very fact that globalisation is a double edged sword. William Duiker seems to oppose the views of Friedman regarding the concept of globalisation.

Cyclical, Frictional and Structural Unemployment Statistics Project

Cyclical, Frictional and Structural Unemployment - Statistics Project Example Fifty percent, 10 percent, 30 percent and 10 percent of the total U.S unemployment accounts for unemployed persons due to layoff, those who have already quit their previous jobs, those reentering the labor force and new entrants to the labor force respectively. According to the Bureau of labor statistics, the number of unemployed persons in the U.S stood at 11.7 million while the unemployment rate stood at 7.6 percent in March 2013. This was a decrease from 7.7 percent in the previous month. In March 2013, the unemployment rate for adult males was 6.9 percent, adult females 7.0 percent and youths 24.2 percent. Categorized according to race, the unemployment rate for whites was 6.7 percent, blacks 13.3 percent, Hispanics 9.2 percent and Asians 5.0 percent.   In the same month, the number of persons unemployed for 27 or more weeks, stood at 4.6 million accounting for 39.6 percent of the unemployed. The labor force participation rate reduced by 0.2 percent while the civilian labor for ce reduced by 496,000. The involuntary part-time workers dropped by 350,000 to 7.6 million in March. They are regarded as involuntary part-time workers because their hours had been cut back or because they were unable to find a full-time job. In the same month, employment in the retail sector declined by 24,000 while employment in the health sector, professional and business services increased by 23,000 and 51,000 jobs respectively.The construction industry added 169,000 jobs. Job decline in clothing and accessories stores stood at 15,000, building material and garden supply stores at 10,000 and electronics and appliance stores 6,000. Some sectors in the government such as Postal Service employment fell by 12,000. Compared to previous months, major industries such as mining, manufacturing, wholesale trade, transportation and warehousing, information, financial activities, state government, and local government recorded dismal changes in employment. Since 1948, to 2013, the average u nemployment rate has been 5.81 percent. The highest unemployment rate was in 1982 hitting a high of 10.8 and the lowest ever was in 1953 hitting a low of 2.50 percent. Unemployment is defined as the fraction of the total people looking for a job to the total labor force. Since the great depression, the U.S has recorded the highest stretch of the  unemployment rate of above 8 percent. The congressional budget office projects that the unemployment rate will remain above 8 percent until 2014.