Globalization's effects on financial markets and international corporate expansion

Globalization has had a significant effect on all domains and it is difficult for particular bodies to stay out of the process, considering that it is constantly progressing and that more and more individuals are experiencing both positive effects as a consequence of the fact that they need to develop more complex thinking that can assist them in keeping up with the rest of the world. Financial institutions and financial influential individuals have enlarged their spheres of influence geographically and now have to use new tools with the purpose of achieving their goals. There are no more borders when considering financial markets and economic agents from around the world have access to a wide range of possibilities, but are exposed to a wide range of risks at the same time.

Reform dominates most of the contemporary society and it is essential for the masses to understand that they need to get actively involved in limiting the negative effects that this change has on them. The fact that telecommunication networks have enabled financial agents to perform easier and more secure cross-border financial deals is one of the most important aspects regarding the relationship between globalization and financial markets. Financial markets today have become a place where financial products experience rapid evolution. These respective financial products are related to as being "derivative" instruments and they enable borrowers and lenders to be an active part of their business deals. "With derivative products, borrowers and lenders can therefore mitigate some of the problems associated with asymmetries of information in financial markets, which are particularly acute in the international context" (Issing).

Major corporations find it easier to grow as financial markets are affected by globalization. One can actually say that corporations and globalization have an interdependent relationship because they are directly responsible for each-other's progress. With financial markets now having very little borders corporations manage to expand their businesses in areas that they previously had nothing to do with. Similarly, international actors who previously expressed little interest in other players now enjoy cooperating with these respective players as they acknowledge the profits that they can get out of the enterprise.

Sizable firms can no longer operate as if they were national firms and have to consider themselves at least continental players. Competitors need to be active in a wide range of markets that are opening up around the world and it is especially dangerous for corporations to refrain from getting involved in particular markets. Areas hosting third-world countries are significant in this overall situation because they provide corporations with the opportunity to gain large profits from these territories (Smith 6).

Even with the fact that financial globalization is most probable to have positive effects on society as a whole when considering the long run, it is likely that many countries, international players, and companies are going to be unable to take full advantage of the process during these early stages. Stock markets need to keep up with international change and do everything in their power in order to go from being domestic to being international. The ones that fail to do so end up shrinking or even disappearing, taking into account that it is very difficult for them to continue to make profits as long as they are no longer able to compete with more powerful bodies.