Chosun Ilbo: Korea Tumbles Six Spots in Globalization Index
I've been opining to excess on this topic lately. So just click on the "international hub?" tag if you want to read more of what I think. This time I'll just repost an article I read today at the Chosun Ilbo.
Foreign Policy has released it's 2007 globalization report. Again, Singapore takes the top spot while South Korea slips a few notches. What a surprise...not.
The report: Foreign Policy: The Globalization Index 2007
The news article: Korea Tumbles Six Spots in Globalization Index
Singapore was rated the most globalized country in the world for the third consecutive year, according to the 2007 Globalization Index. Hong Kong placed second in the index, the seventh annual collaboration between Foreign Policy magazine and A.T. Kearney, a consulting firm. The Netherlands ranked third, followed by Switzerland, Ireland and Denmark. Korea dropped six spots to 35th.
The index is based on data from 72 nations that account for 97 percent of the world GDP and 88 percent of the total population. The index measured 12 variables across four categories: economic integration, technological connectivity, political engagement, and personal contact.
Economic integration includes data on trade and foreign direct investment inflows and outflows. Technological connectivity counts the number of Internet users, Internet hosts, and secure servers for encrypted transactions.
Political engagement includes each country's contributions and memberships in international organizations. Personal contact tracks international travel and tourism, international telephone traffic, and cross-border remittances and personal transfers.
The 2007 rankings are based on 2005 data, the latest available.
The nations at the top of list are mostly small. Of the top 10 nations, eight have less than 84,000 sq.km of land and seven have populations of less than eight million.
Experts attribute the successful globalization of smaller nations to the fact that nations with small domestic markets and few natural resources have few choices but to search for breakthroughs in trade and market openings.
The U.S. dropped three spots to seventh place. India and China ranked 66th and 71st. China, which was ranked low because of its small level of international participation, dropped 15 spots since it changed its policy direction from export-driven growth to domestic demand-oriented growth.
India also ranked low because it lags behind other countries in technological connectivity, with only five percent of its population using the Internet.
There are also some other articles related to the topic on the sidebar at the Chosun Ilbo:
UN Concern at 'Ethnocentric' Korea
Foreigners Have a Hard Time in Korea -- Report
What Koreans Really Think About Ethnic Homogeneity
It's About Time Korea Became Colorblind
Korea Expecting 100 Millionth Foreign Visitor
Korea is Still in the Dark on Globalization
An Alternative link to the Globalization Index Sphere: Related Content
I am so excited to see other Black women in south korea. I also started a blog 11Down9toGo (blogger) but it is not nearly as good as yours, mine is really is basic. I just wanted to show some love and ask, Where can a sista get her hair done? I have micros and I would like to get them redone. Thanks
ReplyDeleteThanks. Usually folks just email me (email is down in the links on the right.)
ReplyDeleteHowever, I can publish the shop's info on the net, so why not?
A good shop for black hair care in Seoul is Family Hair Shop. I would go there to get my hair put into microbraids or cornrows. However, now that I wear my hair natural, I don't go except for manicures and pedicures. They provide other hair services as well.
They learned their skills providing hair services on base and they're licensed and trained. They just got smart and decided to open their own shop.
They're in the Itaewon area of Seoul near Noksapyeong Station, Exit 2. You have to cross the street heading to the archway. Walk for about 3 to 4 minutes and you'll see a McDonalds on the other side of the road and the start of a narrow road heading uphill. Family Hair Shop is across from the McDonalds at the start of that narrow road they're next to an exchange bureau and touristy shoe and boot shop.
You can call them at 02-796-3538.
Expat Jane another great blog. As I've stated before it doesnt make sense to be technologically advanced yet culturally stagnant as in the case of South Korea.
ReplyDeleteI was reading some of the links you posted and the one Korea is Still in the Dark on Globalization caught my eye as the author was stating he was the only one at the G8 summit there were no other KOreans in sight and that Koreans really don't have an understanding of globalization.
I know Koreans don't like to hear that but it's the truth. I mean Singapore is booming and one can't deny that fact. I will check out the rest of your blogs and comment on them. Keep up the great work, hopefully by this time next year Korea wont tumble any further.
Well, the hope is that they reverse this trend. However, the challenge is to stop slapping a bandaid on the problem and try for real change.
ReplyDeleteMaybe with the upcoming change in the presidency something might happen. I might get slammed for saying it, but the conservatives in Korea can get economic programs going.
Plus, I like them 'cause they have a realist view of Korean politics and international politics. That's much different from the Right in the USA :(