Globalization

This paper looks at some aspect of globalisation. After a discussion on its definition, the first part highlights historical evolution of globalisation in its major components (trade flows, foreign direct investments, portfolio movements and migration). The evidence shows that (1) globalisation its not new; (2) it is not irreversible; (3) the new elements in the last phase of globalisation are the low international mobility of labour, the changes in trade policy, the relevance in financial capita movement and their role in financial crisis. In the second part, the paper shows how poverty has not increased around the world (even if its level reaches dimension requiring a humanitarian attention). Inequality around the world is increased in the last two hundred years with an inversion in its trend in the last twenty years. In the third part, the paper analyses the role of economic actors at the international level. The problem of accountability and representatively both of governmental and non governmental organisation is analysed. A short guide to information available on the web closes the paper.