Globalization of Services Overview
The Globalization of Services research initiative takes a holistic and objective look at accelerating global trade in services, and examines the related corporate and public policy issues in emerging and developed economies. It brings together influential leaders from business, public policy and academia to create and aggregate intellectual capital, and to identify best practices in this area.
Lowering of tariffs and trade barriers, and rapid advances in technology has fuelled increased global trade and financial integration. Digitization of information and expanded bandwidth capability is accelerating trade in services. Companies can now tap into the global talent pool, and offshore services range from routine call centers to higher value analytical research activities. This has created new opportunities and challenges for organizations in both developed and developing countries.
Knowledge-sector policies are being developed in emerging economies to capitalize on this opportunity. Redistributive effects of this phenomenon are leading to job losses and wage pressures in developed countries. Lawmakers in these economies are wrestling with policies to ensure that their workers remain competitive in the new global service economy.
This initiative will identify and examine the key business and policy questions, new challenges and opportunities, and the future possibilities brought about by the increasing globalization of service activities. The Intellectual capital generated through this initiative will be widely disseminated by WDI.