Imagine the world as one giant supermarket. Every country is a shop that sells its own products – like Italy’s pasta, Japan’s electronics, or Brazil’s coffee. Globalisation is the process that lets shoppers (countries) buy and sell freely across all these shops, sharing goods, services, and ideas. It’s like having a universal shopping card that works everywhere, making it easier to get what you need, no matter where it’s made.
Sometimes a country decides to set rules that make it harder for other shops to sell there. These rules are called trade restrictions. They come in three main types:
When trade barriers fall, businesses grow and create jobs. This can attract people from other countries who want to work, study, or start a business. The relationship between globalisation and migration can be seen as a simple equation:
\$M = f(G, P, L)\$
where M = migration flow, G = level of globalisation, P = political stability, and L = labour demand. When G rises, M tends to rise too, especially if P and L are favourable.
The EU removed many trade barriers between member countries, turning the region into a single market. As a result, people could move freely for work. For example, a software engineer from Spain can easily find a job in Germany, and a farmer from France can sell produce in Italy without extra taxes.
| Country | Trade Openness Index | Net Migration (per 100k) |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | 0.78 | +12 |
| Italy | 0.65 | +5 |
| United Kingdom | 0.70 | +8 |
1. What is a tariff?
2. Name one way globalisation can increase migration.
3. How does a quota differ from a tariff?
Answers: 1) A tax on imported goods. 2) By creating more jobs abroad. 3) A quota limits quantity; a tariff imposes a tax.