Analysis of spatial change and urban performance

China

USA

China has been taking up globalization for many centuries.

The United States that was formerly reserved about taking up globalization became active at the opening of world markets relinquishing of its protectionist policies that had been the norm in the 19th century up to the 1930s (Hopkins, 2002).

The first historical indication of China engaging in internationalism was during the Han Dynasty.

The dynasty further developed avenues of contact between China and Europe making routes that facilitated for trade between the Dynasty and other nations making it even stronger (Bayly, 2004).

During the early post-World War period all the way to the 1960s, a massive census in the United States was for the idea of liberal international trade policies(Hopkins, 2002).

In the beginning, the Huns in the north were seeking to attack and rule the frontiers of Han. Emperor Wu of Han in an attempt to protect his borders sought to develop economic and political alliances with a country called Dayuezhi so as to join forces in fighting the enemy attacks (Bayly, 2004).

The USA decision to allow the dollar be determined in the free market played a significant role at the globalization of currency markets which paved the way for other financial markets (Bowles,2007).

China

USA

·         The economy of China under the more open laws to globalization and the global market has grown exponentially during 1978 to 2012, the GDP of China grew at about 9.8% annually, and it increased more than 22.5 times during the period (Killion, 2006).

·         By the year 2010, China surpassed Japan to become the world’s second largest economy and also surpassed Germany in Export volume to become the world’s largest.

·         The United States’ economy grew substantially in the post-Second World War following the globalization efforts of the country that emerged as one of the World’s superpower.

·         During the Cold War with Russia, it is the globalization effort by the USA that made them come up on top.

·         On the equity front, it has become an unequal country despite the fact that China was known for its equality in socialism. It is because of the difference in income in the country.

·         The UNDP, Human Development Report (2005) indicated that if the world were one country, globalization would result in 20% of the world’s population having more than three-quarters of the income.

·         The poorest 40% would have a mere 5% of the world’s income leading to the so-called Champaign glass effect.

·         However, there have been questions on the level of inequality in the country.

·         The number of the poor in the country is increasing.

·          The industrial workers are also losing their jobs as a result of globalization since most industry players prefer to outsource some products from China and other countries where the cost of production is lower.

·          It is this that has further deepened inequality in the country (Bowles,2007).

·         The ecology and the environment of China have also been adversely affected.

·          In the present due to the rapid industrialization to meet the demand of exportation, China is experiencing one of the worst environmental hazards.

·         The ecological pressure on the USA has also continued with globalization that has brought stiff competition from key players in industries.

·         There is also welcoming of foreign explorers and exploiters that in some cases have led to massive environmental degradation.

·          For example, the BP oil spill that caused a lot of ecological problems yet the firm was from Britain.