Change in globalization due to COVID 19
I agree with you that the pandemic has significantly changed globalization by disrupting the global supply chains. After the epidemic broke out in Wuhan, China, many countries found themselves in a dilemma as they could not access goods manufactured in that country due to travel restrictions and social distancing protocols. As a result, many companies seek to invest in their home countries as the pandemic threatens to extend beyond this year. Actually, no one knows when the pandemic will end, and the exact time scientists will develop a vaccine for normalcy to return. What is more frightening to companies is the continued insistent by governments and health agencies that restriction of traveling to foreign countries is the only way to combat the further spread of the pandemic. I believe that a global lockdown threatens the basic tenets that contribute to the globalization of markets and economies both in the short and long-term.
Marissa,
Just like you, I did not at first think that the COVID-19 breakout in Wuhan, China, would be a threat to globalization. I began to take a keen interest in the matter after I got information through mass and digital media platforms concerning how Chinese authorities were implementing a complete lockdown in Wuhan to combat the viral disease’s further spread. Political leaders in western countries have continuously blamed China for knowingly spreading the pandemic. However, what they forget to tell people is that China is the global manufacturing hub for almost all countries, courtesy of globalization. As the blame game continues, the pandemic is wreaking havoc on the global supply chain systems with multinational organizations bearing the brunt most. In return, governments worldwide are offering stimulus packages to companies affected by the pandemic to offset declining GDP due to losses in investments. However, monetary and fiscal policies implemented by governments have failed to bear intended fruits due to the uncertainty caused by the lengthened period of foreign travel restrictions. Global powers believe that overreliance on China as the global supply and manufacturing hub has led to economic vulnerability. As continuously stated by President Trump, the only solution is relocating businesses and doing away with some elements of globalization. Ideally, I agree with you that the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly weakened globalization on all fronts, economically, politically, culturally, and technologically.
Bike-sharing response,
I disagree with your argument that is going against the introduction of a dockless bike-sharing program for our township. It is rather interesting to compare scooters to bikes to oppose such a noble initiative. First, in those cities, companies introduced a docked scooter-sharing program without considering the space needed for packing rather than a dockless sharing program, which does not require any parking space. Secondly, the costs of maintaining scooters are significantly higher than those of bikes. Although scooters are two-wheeled just like bicycles, they have an electrical changing system with an engine ranging between 50 to 250 cc. On the other hand, bikes have no engines, meaning that riders use their energy to move from point A to B. Thus, the maintenance costs must be high since the small-motorized machines can get mechanical hitches regularly after getting ridden by irresponsible and careless clients. Moreover, the increase in prices is also caused by the fee paid by customers to unlock them. However, dockless bike-sharing programs will evade these costs and charge relatively lower prices than those charged by scooter companies.