Thomas Friedman, Foreign Affairs Columnist, The New York Times

Initiative Session Date: March 16, 2005

Summary:
Mr. Friedman claimed that Americans are unprepared for today’s global economy in which the pace is quickening, the size is shrinking and the playing field is flattening. Individual competition is rapidly growing in this increasingly complex global market. Mr. Friedman suggested 10 factors that are contributing to a “flat” world: 1) Fall of the Berlin Wall, 2) Netscape going public, 3) Work flow software, 4) Open-sourcing, 5) Outsourcing, 6) Offshoring, 7) Supply–Chaining, 8) Insourcing, 9) In-forming, and 10) Wireless digitalized communications. The combined knowledge of developed countries produces innovative ideas and products. Yet, developed countries are falling behind because they do not recognize the power and entrepreneurial contribution to the global market from individuals all over the world, including developing countries such as India and China. In order to capitalize on this new world economy, Mr. Friedman said that now is the time to effectively address the challenges that burden developing countries, such as extreme global poverty. Americans cannot stop the flattening of the world, but they can influence the outcome for better or worse. Friedman concluded by encouraging each person to put their vision of a better world into action.

“Collaboration in poverty alleviation is not just for NGOs. It is also for multinational corporations.”

     – Excerpt from “The World is Flat,” by Thomas Friedman (p. 389).

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