Explore 1

Explore 1

What economic and political barriers exist?

Canadians generally describe their ways of life as prosperous. This prosperity is strongly tied to the economic prosperity enjoyed because of Canada’s ability to participate in the international economy. Are there barriers placed on less-developed countries that would benefit from the opportunities of economic globalization?

barrier: a condition that blocks or impedes an opportunity
riot police

Over the decades, media has captured scenes of protests against globalization, international trade organizations, and meetings of the most powerful economies of the world. Organizers of the World Trade Organization and the G8 meetings defend these organizations and conferences as key to addressing global issues, and they often focus on gathering international support for least developed countries. Why are there protests?

World Trade Organization: an international organization of 152 members that works to improve trade relations between its members and to remove tariffs and trade barriers; formerly the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade

G8 (Group of 8): a group of eight highly industrialized and democratic nations that agree to regularly meet and discuss economic and foreign policies

Internet

This is a required activity to support the Explore but will not be graded.

Go to the Internet to examine Protest G8 – 2007, a viral video independently produced as a call for protest at the June 2007 meeting of the G8. It presents contrasting images of quality of life and industrialization.

A key criticism by protesters is the political barrier created by the monopoly of decision making by a handful of economically powerful countries and multinational corporations. In the view of many protesters, international trade agreements and organizations are exclusive. They bar small businesses and least developing countries from participating in meaningful ways to benefit from the opportunities of economic globalization.

factory stuff

There are economic barriers that a country may face such as a lack of financial capacity to create industries, a skilled work force, and the infrastructure for production.

There may be technological barriers such as access to technology and the Digital Divide.

Digital Divide: refers to the gap between citizens of countries in the access to digital and information technologies

This gap may be a factor in the country’s ability to participate in the global economy.

Activity: LDC

The UN–OHRLLS (United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States) has created a list of LDCs (Least Developed Countries) and criteria to identify which countries fall into this category.

  • a low-income criterion, based on a three-year average estimate of the gross national income (GNI) per capita (under $750 for inclusion, above $900 for graduation);

  • a human resource weakness criterion, involving a composite Human Assets Index (HAI) based on indicators of: (a) nutrition; (b) health; (c) education; and (d) adult literacy; and

  • an economic vulnerability criterion, involving a composite Economic Vulnerability Index (EVI) based on indicators of: (a) the instability of agricultural production; (b) the instability of exports of goods and services; (c) the economic importance of non-traditional activities (share of manufacturing and modern services in GDP); (d) merchandise export concentration; and (e) the handicap of economic smallness (as measured through the population in logarithm); and the percentage of population displaced by natural disasters.

Measuring Progress in Least Developed Countries © United Nations-OHRLLS & World Bank 2006

There are fifty countries on the LDC list. Select one least developed country. In addition to other research tools, you may use the document produced by the UN–OHRLLS and the World Bank online called “Measuring Progress in the LDCs: A Statistical Profile.” It provides statistical information for each of the countries.

average gross national income per capita: the amount of income earned on a yearly basis calculated on total value of currently produced goods and services of a country divided by the population of the country

  1. Research the average gross national income per capita for the last three years.
  1. Identify key issues in nutrition, health, education, and adult literacy.
  1. Describe the ability of this country to manage agriculture, exports of goods and services, and manufacturing.
  2. Research what membership this country holds in the United Nations and international organizations and agreements such as the WTO.

  3. Research the ability of this country to participate in the use of technology.

  4. Based on the criteria, identify the economic, political, and technological barriers that challenge the country’s status as an LDC and its ability to participate in the world economy.

  5. Compile your research into a one-page briefing that identifies the country and presents the researched information and your conclusions (you can post it in the Module 4 Discussion Forum)