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Globalisation Impact on Namibia: Insights and Controversies

Explore the effects of globalisation on Namibia, including benefits and challenges, as presented by Robin Sherbourne in 2003 to VSO. Learn about key questions, economic theories, positive and negative impacts, and debates influencing Namibia's stance in the globalisation discourse.

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Globalisation Impact on Namibia: Insights and Controversies

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  1. The Impact of Globalisation on Namibia A presentation by Robin Sherbourne of the Institute for Public Policy Research to VSO 23 May 2003

  2. 3 Key Questions Plus • What is globalisation? • Why is it important? • How does it impact on Namibia? • What we can and can’t influence • The Big Debates

  3. What Is Globalisation? Increasing (economic) interaction between countries including: • Trade • Investment • Labour • (Culture) • (Values) • (Diseases) • (Terrorism)

  4. Why Is It Important? • How do poor countries become richer? • Economic theory • Economic evidence

  5. Economic Theory • The “Catch Up Effect” – poorer countries have potential to grow faster • Theory of Comparative Advantage – specialise in what you are good at and trade the rest

  6. Economic Evidence • Fastest growing economies have started poorer • Rich economies have not grown fast • Poor economies in EU converge • High growth economies have been more highly integrated • Recessions exacerbated by trade protection • Rapid growth in small countries needs world economy

  7. Impact on Namibia? • Meat and livestock (~3%) • Diamonds and minerals (~13%) • Fish products (~6%) • Beer (~1%) • Tourism (~2%) • Imagine these industries without international trade, investment and labour mobility

  8. Positive Impact on Namibia? • Imagine “North Korean” style economic policies • Imagine a large city in Europe • Plus no big inefficient industries grown under protection

  9. Negative Impact on Namibia? • National sovereignty • Economic autarky vs integration • Regional integration vs global integration • Brain drain • Exploitation of resources • Labour standards • “Race to the bottom” • Inequality

  10. What Can’t We Influence? • Monetary policy (interest rates and exchanges rate) determined by CMA • Trade policy (tariffs and non-tariff barriers) determined by SACU and WTO

  11. What Can We Influence? • Domestic taxes • Fiscal policy • Education and training • Health • Labour laws • Social security • Business regulations

  12. The Big Debates • Too much globalisation or too little? • Freeing up international labour market would bring much greater benefits • Environmental impact of wealthier planet • Political consequences of wealthier planet • Industrial development and infant industry • Rich country agricultural protection • Intellectual property rights

  13. Final Thought Is Namibia helping to lead the international debate on globalisation?

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