NationStates Jolt Archive

We live in a globalized world and companies may produce in the country that offers them the best conditions. Best conditions basically are: Lowest taxes, less social security for workers, less hard restrictions as far as the environment is concerned.
Thus high unemployment in Western countries. But Third world countries do not even benefit, either, because workers have to work under unacceptable conditions.
Global social and environmental standards would make the world better
(of course it is only a long-term goal, but nevertheless...)

Well, a world government is an interesting notion, but bear in mind that political and social disagreements still exist. Allow me to take Russia and The U.S as examples. Now, as we all know, the Cold War ended in the early 90's, but these two nations are still at loggerheads on many issues, and the enmity that was created by the Cold War is not going to leave so easily. That could destory the principle on which a world government could operate

I've always been a huge advocate of a global government, but the likelihood of an effective, accountable world governmental body is slim for the time being.

Environmental, labour, humanitarian law, etc standards are important, but difficult to enforce.

And, as mentioned, there's alot of differing philosophies out there amongst all the different nations. Finding some effective compromise between everyone that is sufficient to entice cooperation is a difficult task at best.

I definately believe that something has to be done, though. We live in an age where States are no longer secular entities with no effect on each other. Decisions by States can have huge impacts on their neighbours and even the world itself (environmental concerns, foreign investment policies, labour laws, etc).

Unfortunately I can offer little in the way of a workable solution, but I'll be sure to let you (and the world) know the moment I come up with something ;)

I think that right now we are seeing the slow but steady creation of superstate entities through economic integration. Collections of states, some looser than others, are developing throughout the world for economic reasons. Its likely to be a slow process occasionally punctuated by rapid consolidation or fracturing.

While this is by no means an inevitability, we may yet see the creation of a new balance of power through major superstate entities interacting with each other in more than just economic ways. The Recent announcement of talks to start a South American unified economic zone indicate that politicians around the world are starting to think in these terms.

East and Southeastern Pacific economic blocs are already in place, but the US and the history of the area effectively shut down most attempts for greater political unity.

...So that's the (already) United States, European Union, the South American Federation of states (or whatever they decide on calling it), the SE Asian economic concern. The laughably weak African Union might be considered, but I doubt it.

That leaves the Middle East and central Asia as the remaining major areas without Superstate bodies.

Effectively dividing up the globe into new Superstate nations would effectively provide a "world" government with the very Continents as the induvidual member states.

Thus high unemployment in Western countries.

Actually what mostly determines the level of unemployment in a country is the rate the central bank sets interest rates. When inflation is low, they lower interest rates, people borrow more and buy goods and invest more and this creates more employment. When inflation is high central banks increase interest rates, which results in people borrowing less, buying less and investing less. This stops inflation, but is bad for employment.

Generally countries are in charge of their own employment levels.

But Third world countries do not even benefit, either, because workers have to work under unacceptable conditions.

Holy cow! They really do benefit! Imagine a kid whose parents have made him leave school at the age of 14 to work in a factory. He works so hard that now as an adult he has a deformed spine. Which third world hell hole did this happen in? The Netherlands (Holland). The kid was my father. Now the Netherlands has one of the highest standards of living in the world. After the war, Europe was full of sweatshops. Conditions were often bad, but now they are better. Now, Europeans have some of the best working conditions in the world.

At the end of world war two, Japan was in ruins. Their economy was 1% the size of the the United States. But they worked and studied hard, often under poor conditions, and now they have the second largest economy in the world.

If they were lucky, Chinese workers used to get about 20 cents a day twenty years ago. Now many skilled factory workers in Shanghai get over two American dollars an hour.

We do need to work out a way for nations to cooperate together more effectively, but globalization has only a little to do with employment, and it has benifited millions in poorer nations and will continue to improve their lives.

Best conditions basically are: Lowest taxes, less social security for workers, less hard restrictions as far as the environment is concerned
Feh - and the worst possible conditions basically are: high taxes, major civil liberties oppression, loss of control over local affairs, etc.

These things have to come about organically; you can't just decide on something and have it happen. Obviiusly though, globalisation is bringing all countries closer together and there will be a world government sooner or later. Our choice is whether we want a democratic government or just rule by corporations. Presently we are heading towards the latter, and the US government's contempt for the UN and any international institution they do not control is part of that process.