Impact of Globalization on Social and Community Development Prof. Stephen Cheung Department of Economics and Finance City University of Hong Kong.

Impact of Globalization on Social and

Community Development

Prof. Stephen Cheung

Department of Economics and Finance

City University of Hong Kong

Globalization

“Since 2001 the pay of the typical worker in the United States has been stuck, with real wages growing less than half as fast as productivity.….. If you look back 20 years, the total pay of the typical top American manager has increased from roughly 40 times the average--the level for four decades--to 110 times the average now.… In China each person now produces four times as much as in the early 1990s. Having joined the global labour force, hundreds of millions of people in developing countries have won the chance to escape poverty. Hundreds of millions more stand to join them.… But in the rich world labour's share of GDP has fallen to historic lows, while profits are soaring.” (Economist, 2007)

Contents

• Globalization• Role of Government• Importance of partnerships• What is corporate social responsibility (CSR)?• Drivers for Organizations• Role of Government in CSR• Obstacles in running socially responsible

businesses

Globalization

• Increase competition

– Encourage specialization

– Consumers gain from lower prices and

greater variety

• Increase in trade and investments

World Trade

Source: 2005 Annual Report, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas

Assets Aboard

Source: 2005 Annual Report, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas

Globalization

• Price stability– Lower inflation– Seven largest developed nations: U.S., U.K.,

Canada, Italy, Germany, France and Japan– Average annual inflation

• 10.2% (During 1973-1893)• 1.8% (Since 1995)

Inflation in the Seven Countries

Source: 2005 Annual Report, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas

GDP per Capita

Source: IMF, Morgan Stanley Research

Shares of National Income: G7+ Economies

Source: National Sources, Morgan Stanley Research

Participation in the Global Economy - Importance of Partnership

• The Government– Competitive and flexible workforce– Redistribution– Education and Retraining

• Industrial Corporations– Technical and managerial skills– Aspects of international best practices

Participation in the Global Economy - Importance of Partnership

• Civil Society Organizations– Ensure proper investments

• Research Institute– Provide technical training and diagnostic

studies

• Multinational Organizations– Policy advocacy– Watchdog

Corporate Social Responsibilities

• Old ideas of doing business– Profit maximization– Concern on shareholders interest

• Today’s new standard– Innovation– Comply with international standard– Sustainable development– Consider interest of all stakeholders and are expected

to take greater responsibilities in running a business– Corporate social responsibilities (CSR)

What is Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)?

• Major trends in international business in recent years

• Business’s contribution to sustainable development

• Related to basic business activities• Impacts on stakeholders:

– Social; – Economic; and– Environmental

• Create additional value and strategic advantage

McDonald’s – A Case on Child Labor

• “City Toys Ltd in Shajing, Shenzhen, employs children as you

ng as 14 who work from 7am until as late as midnight for 24 y

uan (about HK$23) a day, packing toys for McDonald's.”

• “The minimum wage was on the basis that a worker does eigh

t hours a day, five days a week.”

• "All people aged under 16 are forbidden to work in China."

South China Morning Post, 28 August 2000

Drivers for Organizations

• Enhance image and reputation• Increase shareholders value• Reduce business risk• Legislative requirements• Customer loyalty • Employee loyalty• Improve business operation• Control of legal risks

Obstacles in Running Socially Responsible Businesses

• Management practice

• Increasing cost?

• Monitoring and enforcement

• Sustainable development

Role of Government in Promoting CSR

• Enforcement strategies and legal and regulatory risk management

• Tax initiatives

• Contribution to compliance expertise

• Moral suasion

Incentives

• CSR index– Brand name

• CSR investment fund– Investment communities

• Education

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