TWIF+Chapter+10

The World is Flat Chapter 10: //The Virgin of Guadalupe//

This chapter discusses the import of cultural goods from countries that are not associated directly with the countrty's culture. For example, the stattuette of the Virgin of Guadalupe is a saint in Mexico but they are being imported from China. Lanterns for Ramadan, an holiday celebrated in Egypt, are made and imported from China.

p. 398 Country's decision to develop in a flat world
 * infrastructure to connect more of your people with the flat world platform
 * right education
 * right governance

p. 399 "more open and competitive markets are the only sustainable vehicle for growing a nation out of poverty, because they are the only guarantee that new ideas, technologies, and best practices will easily flow into your country and that private enterprises, and even government, will have the competitive incentive and flexibility to adopt those new ideas and turn them into jobs and products."

p.402 World Bank's International Finance Corporation asked 5 questions about the ease of doing business in different countries. For example, to start a business in Australia (2 days), Haiti (203 days), Congo (215 days) I // was completely naive about the ease of starting a business in the United States. I guess I took it for granted that anyone could start a business, and hire and fire whom they wish. However, some countries have restrictive policies, which could make surviving in a flat world difficult. ~Kristie // p. 411 "The more you have a culture that naturally glocalizes,--that is, the more your culture easily absorbs foreign ideas and global best practices and melds those with its own traditions--the greater advantage you will have in a flat world."
 * 1) Start a business in terms of local rules, regulations, and license fees
 * 2) hire and fire workers
 * 3) enforce a contract
 * 4) get credit
 * 5) close a business that goes bankrupt or is failing

Although some jobs are being outsourced to differnet countries, based on the readings from this chapter those jobs could come back to the United States if people in the outside countries are unable to start and maintain a business. Freidman mentions that the right education can make a difference in surviving in a flat world. This could impact us as teachers in terms of the curriculum that will need to be taught so that our students will be successful in the flat world.

//Kati’s summary below…//  This chapter also discussed how retail reform will (and has) affect the country's success as the world becomes flatter. Some countries make it very difficult to open a business, hire employees, ensure payment for services, etc. These countries will have a harder time thriving in a flat world. However, countries who have reformed their retail practices towards a "glocalized" perspective will be successful. A glocalized perspective is one where a **“culture easily absorbs foreign ideas and global best practices and melds those with its own traditions” (pg 411**). This will give the country/business a greater advantage in the world. Industry is not looking for the cheapest labor. “**It is looking for the most productive labor at the cheapest price…[and] those people will have the best standard of living. This may or may not be the countries who led the Industrial Revolution” (pg 409).** Some of the countries that are moving up in the flat world are China, India, and Ireland. These are all countries that value education and encourage the students to succeed and go to college. This provides a more educated work force. According to Sir John Rose (CEO of Rolls-Royce), we are going to start speaking of “smart, smarter, and smartest countries” instead of “developed, developing and underdeveloped countries” (pg 409).  I do agree with Friedman’s points in this chapter. Industries are looking for the places to produce the best merchandise at the lowest cost, but from an educated work force that could lead to better merchandise. Countries that are not accepting the idea of “flatism” are going to be in trouble, if not so already. If this is true, I believe that the United States is going to be in (even more) trouble. Most of our jobs are being outsourced and there are only so many management jobs to fill here. We definitely are in the need of some serious retail reform. We are also in some need of education reform. Students should learn how to working with people from different cultures, or even from different countries. Students should be exposed to many different backgrounds, cultures, and beliefs early in their education. This will help students to be more empathetic to others and will help them as adults to work successfully in a flattened world.