The Uneven Ledger Of A Wired World: Globalization’s Comprehensive Impact On Consumers, Businesses, Economies, Finance, Geopolitics, And Wealth Distribution

Abstract

Globalization has reshaped consumer markets, business operations, economic structures, financial systems, geopolitics, and wealth distribution. Case studies—India’s $200 billion IT sector, Kenya’s M-Pesa (32 million users, $315 billion transactions), Brazil’s $20–30 billion mining exports, and China’s export-led $18.3 trillion economy—highlight globalization's dual nature: driving prosperity while deepening disparities. This paper challenges universal progress narratives, arguing that globalization’s impacts are uneven.

Synthesizing neoliberalism, dependency theory, and world-systems analysis, it examines economic shifts, corporate dominance, financial flows, trade, technology, social impacts, labor migration, environmental justice, geopolitics, and democracy. The decline of the EU and Japan, influenced by global competition and demographic shifts, contrasts with the rise of emerging economies. Protectionist measures, such as those pursued by the Trump administration, threaten to fragment the interconnectedness of globalization. Quantitative models and visual data (e.g., the global wealth Gini coefficient, 0.89–0.92) illustrate persistent inequality.

The paper concludes by advocating for policies aimed at fostering equitable and resilient global interconnectedness. Key recommendations include SME-focused trade pacts, reskilling programs, corporate tax reforms, and enhanced geopolitical cooperation. These are proposed to navigate challenges such as protectionist trends and demographic changes