COPING WITH GLOBALISATION AND MARKET FORCES

Older Women's Network report of February Discussion on Globalisation.

Discussions at OWN began with the general issue of globalisation. We intend to continue with the series as proposed by "Now we the people

Some discussion points:

  • Australia's place in the OECD hierarchy of most well-off nations has slipped, a fact made obvious by the growth in part time employment in inverse proportion to full time employment. There has been a growth in casual employment and work requiring unskilled labour.

  • Free trade has advantaged the more powerful nations. The entry of China and other poor but populous nations into the trading community will have many implications for the Asian/Pacific region - but what exactly.

  • Australia's dairy industry restructure has seen the rise of an international corporation able to produce cheaper milk. The disruption to the industry, unemployment, loss of stock, disruption to more rural communities have been disregarded in the process.

  • There is very little public debate about the importance of maintaining community values and social capital in the face of the primacy given to financial outcomes by way of profit and dividends.

  • How do we respond to the negative effects of economic rationalism and balance the response to the advantages that advanced technologies offer?
    1. We need to be fully informed and all decision-making processes kept transparent.
    2. Curb the copious waste that occurs daily and strive to lessen the imprint of humanity on the planet.
    3. Too much choice of similar products, 'freedom of choice' now at ridiculous l;levels in the market place.
    4. What would be the effects of the Tobin tax and are there other alternatives.
    5. What are the consequences of Australia's earlier trade ties to the UK and our future trade relations

    Looking ahead to the midyear conference our members would like to have our issues on the agenda, the effect of economic rationalism on women as a group.

    Our next discussion will continue on globalisation with Pat Ranald as a speaker.


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