Globalization is not a recent phenomenon; it began in the 1870s when international trade and investment expanded to sell mass-produced products worldwide, driven by technologies such as steam engines and electricity. The peak of globalization occurred in 2019, just before the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. The economy advances primarily through improvements in productivity. The technological advancements mentioned have significantly influenced this productivity growth. For example, a smartphone, which combines the functionality of a computer with that of a mobile device, exemplifies technological progress that has brought convenience to mankind. However, smartphone technology and network effects haven’t contributed to the expected boost in human productivity. Technology can be categorized into those that enhance productivity and those that do not. Although today’s technology development exceeds that of the past, it doesn’t automatically lead to greater productivity. To build wealth, incre...
Here a product is being made by only three countries, South Korea, China, and Japan. It's not a semiconductor but a nail clipper. You might think that a nail clipper is not a big deal, but it's not as simple as that. Nail clippers are a combination of all sorts of advanced technologies. In the 1980s, South Korea could produce submarines and battleships, but they did not possess the technology to produce nail clippers. When the upper and lower teeth are in mesh, the chink must be 0.1 to 0.2 millimeters. When perfect engagement, the nail is not cut properly on the contrary, the outrange of this tolerance, is cut out coarsely. Today, thanks to technological advances, South Korea has been able to narrow this chink to between 0.05 and 0.08 millimeters. South Korea, to achieve this goal, produces a special steel called "15CM" through POSCO which is specially made for this nail clipper. Many different advanced technologies are combined in this tiny nail clipper. Don't ...