Which of the following are two common consequences of globalization?

• A. Decreased trade and cultural isolation.
• B. Increased trade and cultural exchange; inequality and job displacement.
• C. Growing autarky and reduced technology.
• D. Stagnant population and no migration.

Answer: (B)

Globalization accelerates connections across borders, bringing economies closer together and speeding the flow of goods, services, ideas, and people. That makes trade easier and more extensive, and it also increases cultural exchange as people encounter and influence one another through business, travel, media, and migration. At the same time, these forces can create inequality and job displacement because some industries or regions benefit more than others, and workers in shrinking sectors may lose jobs or see wages pressured as production moves to lower-cost areas or automation changes demand.

The other scenarios describe outcomes that don’t align with how globalization typically unfolds. Decreased trade and cultural isolation run counter to the growth in cross-border exchange. Growing autarky and reduced technology contradict the diffusion of ideas and technologies that globalization promotes. Stagnant population and no migration ignore the movements of people that globalization often involves.

So, the best-fit consequence is that globalization leads to increased trade and cultural exchange, while also bringing inequality and job displacement.