Global Markets

1. Three Main Markets

The global economy is centered around three main markets—not just physically, but also economically. Remember, it's a connected world, so physical geography, at least as far as the markets go, tends to mean less and less. The three main markets are:

• North America
• Europe
• Asia

2. World Bank

The World Bank is an international banking organization connected to the United Nations. It is focused on developing poorer nations. In fact, to quote the World Bank, "We offer support to developing countries through policy advice, research and analysis, and technical assistance. Our analytical work often underpins World Bank financing and helps inform developing countries' own investments."

The World Bank does a lot of work as an agency of the United Nations. They examine per capita income, the wealth of nations, and they help develop poorer nations based on their own economic standing.

term to know

World Bank

An international banking organization connected to the United Nations and focused on developing poorer nations.

3. Per Capita Income

The World Bank divides countries into different categories based on per capita income, which is defined as the average income of a group. In the World Bank's case, this is calculated by taking the gross national income of a country, divided by the number of people living in that country. This determines how they divide countries into different categories, such as:

• High-income countries, such as the United States or Canada, are countries that make $12,616 or more per year in per capita income. This means that each person in the country is making at least this amount of money.
• Upper middle-income countries are defined as countries that have a per capita income of $4,086 through $12,615. This category includes countries like Bosnia and Herzegovina.
• Lower middle-income countries have a per capita income between $1,036 and $4,085. Bangladesh is representative of countries that fall into this category.
• Low-income countries are often referred to as developing countries. These are countries where the per capita income is below $1,035. This category includes countries like the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

IN CONTEXT
The per capita income of a low-income country may look shockingly low to someone who lives in a high-income country, but that doesn't mean there's not an opportunity there for international trade. For example, people thought that cellphones would be too much for the developing world, because if you think about it, for someone making only $1,035 every year, a cellphone must seem like an incredibly lavish expense. It would simply be too much.

But now, because of development within those countries, cellphone sales are huge. This, in turn, sparked other development in infrastructure within the country, which is improving the quality of life for the people there, and raising the per capita income as a result.

They've also become more connected to the outside world. Now, not only are they capable of getting connected to the outside world, but companies are able to reach previously untapped markets as a result. Now the people in low-income countries know about the other opportunities that exist in the world. This is driving change within the country, and also raising the standard of living.

term to know

Per Capita Income

The average income of a group.