The plot of "The world is flat"

Author: Thomas l. Friedman

(Born July 20, 1953) is an American journalist, columnist and author. He is an op-ed contributor to The New York Times, whose column appears twice weekly and mainly addresses topics on foreign affairs.

Title: The world is flat

Pages: 495

Edition Year: 2006

Editorial: Martinez Roca

ISBN: 84-270-3222-6

The world is flat

Chapter One : While I Was Sleeping

In this chapter, the author shows us a trip to various places around the world and then reach conclusion of his theory "the World is flat"

Friedman visit places such as India, where they found various U.S. companies, which are examples to show how the new electronic tools have made it possible to connect the knowledge, regardless of where they are located.

In this chapter, the author presents a historical development of globalization, from the time of colon, the discovery of the New World to today. It also talks about the forces that are flattening the world and the new global order that is emerging.

Chapter two: The Ten Forces Flattened the World.

The fall of the Berlin Wall (09/11/1989) : The fall of the Wall not only unleashed forces that helped to free the captive populations of the Soviet Union, but also brought down the balance of power throughout the world, benefiting those calling for a more democratic form of government, and oriented free trade

8 / August 1995 when new Netscape went public: This second flattened it had two events; the first was with the Internet and the second operating system.

In the year 95 starts the new era of connectivity, with the launch of Windows 95 and World Wide Web (such as global system to create, organize and link documents so that they could easily be expanded on the Internet, developed in 1991 by Tim Berners - Lee), Netscape (as the most popular search engine after its broadcast on August 9 1995, which made the Internet accessible to millions of people)

Work flow software: The development of this flow of information allowed the businessmen and people could buy, sell things, and connect all parts of an enterprise network.

These first three bulldozers, one of nature political, economic and the other two constitute what Friedman. Call it as "the platform of the flan World"

Open-Sourcing: This chapter is about the free access to information sources, these programs were available to all people, which was free of charge (an example of this source of information is Wikipedia). Thus, progress in the field of information technology has been huge, and even large companies have benefited from it.

Out Sourcing: In this flattened, shows us an example with the Indian

for many people, the Indian meant to abandon the path of poverty, others, lose their jobs.

The companies in the world began to outsource, to surrender part of its services to other companies to save costs and thus offer a cheaper product. And this was the case in India. Bangalore is one of the places in the world with a lot of outsourcing. Friedman said that outsourcing has allowed firms to split the services and manufacturing activities in its components, each of the units made in a more efficient and profitable for a good market and consumer

Off shoring: this flattened speak about that many companies move Entire factories to other countries to lower their costs. One example is China with its cheap labor and low taxes for businesses has been the main Beneficiary of this practice. This is a practice that is being done by some Decades, but these effects have been felt more strongly in recent years. This is of a race in which they are immersed in developing countries to attract companies that are willing to relocate Entire production lines. Countries Eastern Europe, for example, have benefited, especially the relocation of factories Automotive.

Supply-chaining: it is about the development of large supply chains in the world. It is a term that refers to a series of processes for the exchange of goods and information between the companies, their suppliers and customers.

Friedman tells of the excitement that you caused him to see action in the supply chain of Wal Mart in central Arkansas. The supermarket chain has achieved an international reputation for its supply chain and the main beneficiaries of a good supply chain are all consumers who profit from the decrease in the cost of the final product.

In sourcing, this flattened speak about the presence of subcontractors in enterprises contracting. Small businesses, they can not develop large supply chains, go to companies that are in the business of the "solutions synchronized. "They are responsible for develop the supply chain of company

contractor. The difference with outsourcing that is, the company subcontracted,

involved in the operation of the company Contracting for analyzing processes

internally, and thus able to formulate a new design. And shows us the example of UPS has become the leader in the field of in sourcing.

In-Forming: this flattened is about free access to information. It refers to Internet search engines like Google, Yahoo or MSN. This made it easier for people to get a lot of information in the areas of multi-known academics and allows many people in the world.

The Steroids: The past is flattened about steroids. It refers to the technological advances that have helped deepen the phenomenon of earth flattened "The steroid together all the technological advances and places them in the hands of consumers." According to Friedman, the human being in this era of the "digital, mobile, virtual and personal ", thanks to wireless technology. . and shows us the example of cell phones, iPods, etc.

Chapter three: The triple Convergence

In this chapter Friedman explains that the ten flattening, joined, and were made available to create a rich environment for the flattening of the earth.

The creation of complementary software, Internet and political factors, resulted in several developing countries, including China, Russia, India and Latin America, which opened its borders at the time for creating a path that led to the rapid pace of globalization.

Friedman spoke about the importance tube, for the first time in history, the knowledge of the human being. It has become one of the most important issues of geography, as individuals and businesses have the need to unite to compete in a global market

Friedman is working on common myths about globalization, such as exploring the dot.com boom and bust, the U.S. government of disinformation to the public as the triple convergence and carried out the revolution that we heard in the last 20 years.

Chapter Four: the great sorting out.

In this chapter Friedman speaks about, that the world's countries and societies must adapt to the dramatic changes that globalization has brought to them, so economic, political and social. Perform comparisons of the Industrial Revolution and the current technology revolution that leads us to believe that the flattening of the world today could have been predicted by Karl Marx.

Friedman interview conducted political theorist Michael J. Sandel the two discussed whether or not the globalization of state exploiting the people in the world. In search of an answer to this question, Friedman discusses the history of India from 2003, when an Indian company was subcontracted to improve unemployment in India, with a computer system to work effectively the work of the people in India in order to provide more work for people of limited resources in India. In this research is examining the boundaries between companies and different groups of workers, as well as relations between the entities and companies operating within them. And finally notes that it must raise a review of legislation between the media and individuals, since many companies do not provide the necessary care to their workers, and many times these are extorted. Friedman proposes setting up and reviewing legislation to protect

Chapter Five: America and free trade

In this chapter, Friedman focuses on free trade in America, and poses a question, Ricardo is still right? And if the theory of comparative advantage remains good in a flat world. (This theory is about, that if each country specializes in a product where the highest production, trade with other nations will be much better for both parties and for the enhancement of the global economy) Friedman concludes it is not completely reliable and secure for the global economy. Put an example of the United States, as many times this country does not fully meet the general rules of free trade

But it also comes to the conclusion that the construction of walls and borders in the world economy would be detrimental to our goals and that Americans must be prepared to compete on a level playing field for the global economy. And therefore argues that free trade must be accompanied by policy both domestic and international strategies so as to help individual countries to adjust their economic policies in a flat world.

Chapter six: the Untouchables.

This chapter is about the various concerns that Americans have for various items, such as competition for jobs in the United States and the rise of these.

Friedman argues that the key to exit highlighted as an individual at the world level, is becoming

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