(1) Are current global developments leading to the economic convergence or divergence of nations? Discuss, with examples, the role of multinational enterprises in this process.
(2) How can government policy foster economic, social and environmental sustainability? Discuss, with examples, the possible negative implications of globalisation on sustainability.
Guideline:
You need to choose ONE of these topics for your individual essay. You can choose the direction of your essay and the area on which you wish to focus. For example, in your piece you can highlight changing trends in the way a chosen industry has evolved through time. Your analysis may focus on the structure of the chosen industry, organisationally and geographically (for example, dominated by few big players across the globe or a multiplicity of smaller players; dominated by producers, consumers or retailers; strategic alliances, outsourcing relations, tight/loose supply chains; geographically clustered; strong national presence; state of regulation/deregulation etc.). You may choose to analyse the factors relating to globalisation which drive the chosen industry, for example technology, networks, immigration, movement of expert workforce, international regulation etc. The piece must also attempt to link current economic/political/technological developments with the opportunities or threats posed to the chosen industry in the future and should engage with and present all perspectives around an active debate.
In terms of word limit, the ABSOLUTE MAXIMUM is 3000 words. Please make sure that the essay is consistent, coherent and is NOT repetitive.
This assignment is written for a specific audience. This affects the writing style, the structure of the piece and the content. You should assume an audience with considerable understanding of economic, political and business issues.
You MUST use references to support your work. The references must be academic publications (academic journal papers, books and book chapters, conference papers etc.) A limited use of
‘grey literature’ (government reports, articles that appear in reputable magazines and newspapers) is allowed. The references which will appear in a reference list at the end will not count towards the word limit. The in-text citations will count towards the word limit. I expect to see at the very least 15 references.
The assignment will account for 100% towards the final grade.
Instructions:
a) Structure
In terms of structure, please ensure that there is a title, an introduction, a conclusion and a reference list.
The introduction should frame the topic that you will explore, inform the reader what aspects you are discussing in the essay, and finally tell the reader what your point is in relation to the arguments raised.
The conclusions are very important and always play a big part in the assessment. Your conclusions should be compact (300-400 words), bring out the key points that you made and make sure that you leave the reader with a clear idea of your personal assessment of the issues discussed. Evidence of critical thinking is necessary.
The structure of the main body will depend on the direction and focus of your essay. Please come and discuss with me your ideas in order to provide you with feedback and comments as early as possible.
You are reminded that the coursework should be your own work, and that material copied from textbooks, from the coursework of other students, from the lecture slides, or downloaded from the internet constitutes plagiarism unless proper acknowledgement is provided. All references should be provided in standard Harvard format.
b) Formatting
Times New Roman 12pt, 1.5 line spacing, Alignment Justified
2.5cm margin on all sides
Page number on bottom right corner, Candidate numbers in the header on all pages