Globalization and digitalization

The 1990s saw a significant acceleration in the globalization of the world economy: trade barriers and tariffs were dismantled, which strengthened and accelerated international trade. At the same time, more and more companies outsourced their production from Europe and the US to countries in the Global South, primarily China.

Digital technologies have further accelerated globalization in the 21st century. The internet and smartphones have revolutionized the global exchange of information and completely changed our everyday lives. Artificial intelligence (AI) is seen as the next stage in this digital transformation process.

However, digitalization also brings challenges such as economic inequality, cultural homogenization, and environmental problems, which fuel the debate about the disadvantages of globalization.