1.Discuss 1 (just one) force that drives globalization.

Your discussion
must not exceed 5 sentences.

Technological Change.
Advance E-commerce system has made the emergence of companies
such as Amazon.com, ebay.com and many others possible and
successful. Developed countries like US and UK companies have
outsourced many of their business activities to countries like China,
India and many more. This technological revolution enables traders
from remote parts of the world to sell their products/services to
customers around the world on virtual platforms. However,
disadvantages might occur especially in the poor and developing
countries often find it difficult to compete with developed countries
due to their lack of technology, knowledge, skilled labor and other
factors. Therefore, many analysts argue that globalization benefits
developed nations more than developing ones as forces like
technology drives globalization.

2.    Which country would you like to be expatriated to? Give 5 reasons,
bulleted, why you would like to work there.

JAPAN- Tokyo

5 Reasons:

 Japan offers a true opportunity to experience a completely

different way of life from that which I am familiar.
 Japan has only one official language- Japanese. In cities
such as Tokyo a large amount of the population are able to
speak English.
 Japan has four seasons which are categorized by cold
winters and hot summers (up to 40 degrees centigrade). I
would love to experience.
 There are two types of work opportunities available for
expats living in Japan; unskilled low paid work (such as
menial labor) and skilled work (engineers, accountants,
English teachers, technologists).
  Japan is a developed country and I would like to experience
their western like culture and traditions as well that serves
as guide in their everyday living.

Technological change

Technology is also an important driver of globalisation. Advanced E-commerce system has made

the emergence of companies such as Amazon.com, Alibaba.com, ebay.com, and many others
possible and successful. Many US and UK companies have outsourced many of their business
activities to countries such as China, India, Mexico, Turkey, Bangladesh, and many others. This
technological revolution enables traders from remote parts of the world to sell their
products/services to customers around the world on virtual platforms.

In a nutshell, there are a number of driving forces behind globalisation. Many companies are
now multinational corporations with subsidiaries around the world. This gives managers more
opportunities for growth and development. However, globalisation is not without challenges. In
fact, it has its own pitfalls.nFor instance, according to some analysists as cited in Saval (2017),
local workers in some countries had endured a major fall in the real value of their wages, which
dropped by more than 20% because of globalisation. For more information on the pros and cons
of globalisation, please read our article: Advantages and disadvantages of globalisation.

and disadvantages of globalisation

This article aims to identify and explain some of the advantages and disadvantages of
globalisation. Globalisation is an important concept in today’s world. According to Hill (2013)
globalisation is the shift toward a more integrated and interdependent world economy. There is
no doubt that the world is rapidly moving toward an interconnected economic system. However,
it is worth mentioning that globalisation is not without some pitfalls. While most people around
the world support it, there are many who question its ‘charisma’ as well. Therefore, it is
important to examine the pros and cons of globalisation before drawing any conclusions.

Advantages of globalisation (Benefits of globalisation)

Let us imagine a pair of jeans in an American fashion retailer with a ‘made in Bangladesh’,
‘made in China’ or ‘made in Turkey’ tag inside.  Let us also visualise Indians enjoying burgers
of McDonald’s in India. How does it look like when we see people being very emotional having
watched one of the most successful Hollywood movies ever in history, Titanic? These examples
demonstrate the power of globalisation. People around the world have similar needs and desires
which encourage companies to make their products and services available where people are!

Many people believe that globalisation has the potential to make the world a better and more just
place. Interacting with people from different parts of the world provides everyone with an
opportunity to understand different cultures. It also helps them understand human problems from
different perspectives. By collaborating and sharing resources, countries can solve problems that
affect people around the world.

Trading with different countries help businesses increase demand for their products and services
and explore better supply chains. It is therefore not surprising to see that many companies such
as Walmart, Gap, Primark, Zara, H&M, and J.C. Penney produce their merchandise in
Bangladesh. In fact, many fashion retailers produce their merchandise in countries such as
Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, China, Turkey, and Mexico.

One of the biggest benefits of globalisation is speedy travel and less restriction on human
movement. This is useful for companies as they can hire talent from a large pool of
applicants. Likewise, globalisation has helped many businesses keep their operations open
24/7. For instance, while a business day is over in the UK, a new business day begins in other
parts of the world.

As multinational companies are operating around the world, they face fierce competition
constantly. This pushes them often to reduce the prices of their products and services, which
ultimately results in customers paying less. This also forces companies to develop and use
cutting-edge technologies to stay ahead of competition.

Disadvantages of globalisation (Challenges of globalisation)

Poor and developing countries often find it difficult to compete with developed countries due to
their lack of technology, knowledge, skilled labour, and other factors. Therefore, many analysts
argue that globalisation benefits developed nations more than developing ones.

Due to globalisation, many multinationals spread their operations at optimal locations around the
world. This helps them reduce costs of production; however, this also leads to job losses in home
country. Likewise, they also sometimes try to justify lower wages at home.
Free movement of people may be a cause of transfer of contagious diseases. Likewise,
globalisation is often accused of causing brain drain.  Brain drain refers to the situation in which
large numbers of educated and very skilled people leave their own country to live and work in
another one where pay and conditions are better (Cambridge Dictionary, 2020). It is often seen
that developing nations struggle to keep their skilled workers at home who are attracted by better
and higher incentives elsewhere.

  Many environmental activists and analysts  argue that globalisation impacts on environment
badly. Globalisation promotes consumption of goods which necessitates transportation of raw
materials and end products from one place to another. This contributes to noise, air, and water
pollution.

Living in Japan
Living in Japan as an expat offers life in a fascinating country that combines the busy, modern and
exciting cities of places like Tokyo and Osaka with the historical and traditional rural countrysides of
places such as Kyoto and Matsumoto. Japan’s economy has experienced serious difficulties in past
years and it remains in a state of transition. The standard of living in Japan is generally high and
good health care and educational facilities are in place. The culture is very unique and living here
presents a fascinating experience for expats.

Japan as an expat destination

As an expat destination Japan offers a true opportunity to experience a completely different way of
life from that which you are familiar. There are currently around 2 million expats living in Japan with
an estimated 75% of these being from neighboring asian countries.
Japan has a very distinct and unique culture and this can prove difficult for westerners to
understand. That said, the Japanese people, especially the youth, do embrace western cultures and
trends and generally receive westerners positively. Language and communication can be difficult,
especially in the rural areas, but English-speaking doctors and international schools are available in
the bigger cities.

Cost of living in Japan

Japan is famous throughout the world for being expensive and this was supported by the findings of
the 2012 Mercer cost of living survey, which placed the cities of Tokyo and Osaka are the first and
third most expensive cities in the world in which to live. Expatraites wishing to live here need a
significant budget to get by, especially if they wish to enjoy western luxuries. Many expatriates find
that they can significantly lower their expenses if they are prepared to live outside of the main cities
and adjust to living a life similar to the locals.
Housing in Japan is amongst the most expensive in the world and the apartments and small and
built up. Utilities are also expensive. Food can be cheap here at the local supermarkets but, again,
those looking for western delicacies will need to be prepared to pay the price.
Our expat guide to living in Tokyo contains full details of the cost of living in this Asian city including
breakdowns of all the typical living expenses.

Language
Japan has only one official language- Japanese. In cities such as Tokyo a large amount of the
population are able to speak English.

Climate
Japan has four seasons which are categorized by cold winters and hot summers (up to 40 degrees
centigrade).

Living in Japan: Expat job and career opportunities

As with everything else in Japan, there are ingrained social and cultural behaviors that have an
impact on the jobs market. There are two types of work opportunities available for expats living in
Japan; unskilled low paid work (such as menial labor) and skilled work (engineers, English teachers,
technologists). English speakers remain in demand in this country and there is always a high amount
of jobs available for language teachers.
Finding suitable employment in Japan is dependent upon two factors; marketable skills and personal
connections. As with many Asian countries, the best route to finding a job is your network and a
large % of expatriates secure work as a result of a recommendation from a close contact. Online job
search agencies are becoming increasingly popular in the region and Daijob, a site specifically
targeted at expats, can offer a good insight into the types of roles that are currently available.

Key facts every expat should know about living in Japan

1. Formal contracts, such as rental agreements, are usually legalized with an Inkan as opposed
to a signature. An inkan is a seal that has the owner’s last name written in Japanese. Even
foreigners will be expected to use inkans on contracts. You can purchase inkans from
newsagents and stationary stores.
2. It is extremely difficult to opt out of Japan’s national health insurance once you have
registered for it. Make a decision about whether or not you would like the insurance before
you arrive in Japan and, if you decide you would prefer to insure yourself privately, make
 sure that you do not register for the NHI when you are directed to do so as you complete the
alien registration.
3. If you intend to import a pet into Japan you are required to notify the Japanese Animal
Quarantine Service at least 40 days prior to your arrival.
4. Japanese citizens are not allowed to sponsor or hire foreign maids. Expats living in Japan
who hold a senior position in a recognized company may be permitted to do so.

Living in Japan: Japanese city guides

Expat Info Desk currently has a city guide available for living in Tokyo. This exhaustive guide
contains everything you need to know about relocating to this Japanese city and will assist you to:

 relocate efficiently and effectively with minimum stress.

 settle in to your new life quickly and easily and find the help and assistance you need, when
you need it.
 identify areas to live in that suit your lifestyle and budget.
 find the right places to meet like-minded people.
 find schools that are suitable for your children and their learning needs.
 ensure that your family get the most of their experiences abroad.
 prepare for the new culture in advance and avoid any cultural traps.
 deal with any transition challenges.
 cut through red tape and avoid unnecessary bureaucracy.

Unlike a book, expat info desk guides are regularly reviewed and updated in order to ensure that the
information is accurate and reliable and because the guides are written by real expats who live and
work in Tokyo, you can be assured that you are accessing the information that you need as written
by people who really are in the know.