Global Economy, Demographics, and Development: Key Concepts

Global Economy and Globalization

• Key Concepts: Understanding the fundamentals of the global economy.
• Domestic vs. Multinational Enterprise: A multinational enterprise operates in multiple countries, unlike a domestic enterprise.
• Globalization Manifestation: Globalization is evident through increased international trade, distributed production across countries, intensified international financial flows, and numerous trade agreements.
• Factors Driving Globalization: The communications revolution and the Internet have significantly contributed to globalization.
• International Organizations: Should there be international organizations governing the world economy? This is debatable, with potential benefits for poorer countries but concerns about equal treatment.
• America's Role: The United States is a major engine of the global economy, accounting for over 20% of world production.
• Brazil's Rise: Brazil has become a regional power in Latin America, attracting substantial foreign investment.

Demographic Concepts

• Birth vs. Fertility: Birth rate is the total number of births in a country, while fertility rate is the average number of children per woman.
• Natural Increase vs. Real Growth: Natural increase considers births and deaths, while real growth also accounts for migration.
• Active vs. Employed Population: The workforce includes all people of working age, while the employed population consists of those currently working.
• Infant Mortality Rate: A lower infant mortality rate indicates a more developed country due to better healthcare.
• Population Explosion: A population explosion refers to a rapid increase in population over a short period.
• Global Population Aging: The world population is aging due to decreasing birth rates and low mortality rates.

Family Planning and Development

• Family Planning Policy: Family planning policies aim to control the number of children per family, as seen in China.
• High Birth Rates in Underdeveloped Countries: High birth rates in underdeveloped countries are often due to a lack of birth control and the need for labor in agriculture.
• Low Birth Rates in Developed Countries: Low birth rates in developed countries are associated with access to birth control and changing societal needs.