The Global Economy
Driving Question: Is globalization making the world more equal or increasing inequality?
Where does the stuff we use come from, and who benefits from the production and distribution of these goods? This lesson follows the paths of goods, money, and migration to uncover how the global economy impacts lives in very different ways.
Learning Objectives:
- Use evidence to evaluate the effects of globalization through the production and distribution frame.
- Use a graphic biography to support, extend, or challenge the overarching narratives of this period.
Opener: The Global Economy
Coming Soon!
Global Production
Global production links people, places, and economies in surprising ways. Investigate how goods move across borders and what their journeys reveal about labor, trade, and inequality in the global economy.
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Guiding Questions
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Before you read
Preview the questions below, and then skim the article. Be sure to look at the section headings and any images.
While you read
Look for answers to these questions:
- How does cheap labor affect global trade?
- How has automation changed the US job market?
- Why does Apple rely on skilled workers in China?
- What are conflict minerals?
- Why is it hard to know if products are ethically made?
After you read
Respond to this question: How has globalization changed labor and culture over time? Use evidence from the article to support your answer.
Uneven Globalization
Globalization doesn’t affect everyone the same way. With these materials, you’ll see where opportunities are concentrated and how people respond through migration and adaptation.
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Guiding Questions
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Before you read
Preview the questions below, and then skim the article. Be sure to look at the section headings and any images.
While you read
Look for answers to these questions:
- What does Thomas Friedman argue about globalization?
- What forces drove the different stages of globalization?
- How does Richard Florida respond to Friedman’s ideas?
- How does Florida use cities to support his argument?
- What critique does Dr. Vandana Shiva offer?
After you read
Respond to this question: What are some ways that the distribution of power in your school is flat or spiky?
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Guiding Questions
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Before you read
Preview the questions below, and then skim the comic, paying attention to things like prominent colors, shapes, and types of text and fonts. How do you know where to start and in which direction to read? What’s in the gutters (the space between panels)? Who or what is the focus of the comic?
While you read
- Why did Grace and Aminah leave Uganda for work in the UAE?
- How did they get permission to travel?
- How were their experiences in the UAE different?
- How did the Ugandan government respond to stories like Aminah’s?
- How does the artwork highlight their different experiences?
After you read
Respond to this question: How does this biography support or challenge what you’ve learned about how globalization affects different communities?
Closer: The Global Economy
Coming Soon!
Globalization Up Close
From everyday life on Dollar Street to China’s global rise and voices from around the world, these resources add new layers to your understanding of global inequality and connection.
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Guiding Questions
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Before you read
Preview the questions below, and then skim the article. Be sure to look at the section headings and any images.
While you read
Look for answers to these questions:
- What economic changes happened in China after 1949?
- What were the goals and outcomes of the Great Leap Forward?
- What were the goals and outcomes of the Cultural Revolution?
- What policies did Deng Xiaoping introduce after Mao’s death?
- How has China balanced economic change with political control?
After you read
Respond to this question: Do you think “socialism with Chinese characteristics” is just capitalism under one-party rule? Use evidence from the article to support your answer.
