GT Writing Task 2 / Essay Sample # 114
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
Countries are becoming more and more similar because people are able to buy the same products anywhere in the world.
Do you think this is a positive or negative development?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
Model Answer: [It is a negative development]
With the widespread acceptance of globalization and technological changes, there is an increasing resemblance among nations across the world that is very often ascribed to the fact that citizens have access to the commodities from global brands. While this growing trend can reap benefits in some ways, I believe that it has more detrimental effects and hence a negative development overall.
It is true that globalization and technological advancement go hand in hand when it comes down to blurring national boundaries, which in turn bring a few advantages. To start with, globalization has created a conducive atmosphere to promote global trade and commerce. In simple words, globalization discourages governments to impose tariffs on import and export; which eventually offers a bewildering array of products and, therefore, customers can purchase quality goods at a reasonable price. McDonald’s, the world’s largest fast-food chain, is a case in point. With more than thirty thousand restaurants across the globe, it is easy to find a McDonald’s cheeseburger wherever we travel.
Conversely, this trend has catastrophic consequences for the national economy. The most prominent impact is unemployment. Often joblessness is created by local industries being unable to compete. This means that the phenomenon has paved the way for the expansion of large transnational corporations with their goods at a cheap price while local entrepreneurs are forced to slash their prices or are doomed to extinction. Apart from it, there is a possibility that historical conventions and traditional heritage may no longer attract citizens. As most cities look alike, tourists would not be interested to visit distant parts. Moreover, countries would lose their unique identity and traditional way of life which would be suicidal. For instance, the drop in the popularity of traditional meals in many parts of the world is due to this trend.
To conclude, the widespread presence of the same products in myriad parts of the globe leads nations to grow identical to one another causing more downsides than advantages.