Standardizing products - Sample

The standardization of products across the world as a result of globalization has brought many positives and negatives. This essay will examine these two sides of the argument, before showing that the positive effects of this phenomenon are somewhat outweighed by the negative.

There are many arguments in favor of the continued increase in the convergence of product design and style. Thanks to economies of scale, mass-produced goods are now cheaper and more accessible to consumers than ever. For instance, a pair of high-quality shoes or a well-made suit is no longer a luxury for the masses, leading to a marked increase in quality of life for all. Moreover, the expansion of multinational brands like Starbucks or McDonald’s into new countries and territories has brought consistency of experience. Thanks to this, tourists and expatriates can expect familiarity and customary comforts in most major cities around the world. This has been a major factor in the facilitation of cultural exchange around the world, leading to more global understanding and acceptance.

However, there are many downsides to consider. The aforementioned economies of scale often mean that local manufacturers and distributors find it increasingly challenging to compete with the pricing and marketing power of international players. This unfortunately results in the disappearance of many regional businesses, which in turn reduce the diversity and resilience of domestic economies, and creates the tendency for entire industries to centralize. To wit, where local and unique restaurants and groceries once thrived and served the unique tastes and interests of their communities, out-sized national and multinational corporations have taken over and delivered a comparable experience to any other branch from the same brand. Many valuable and distinctive crafts are therefore being lost, from culinary to artisan, eroding our collective cultural diversity, originality, and individuality.

Furthermore, while large national and multinational firms sometimes contribute to the economy through investments into infrastructure or education, these financial gains for locals are usually offset by the favorable tax rates that these firms acquire in return for those investments. Moreover, the majority of jobs created by these companies are low-paying, low-level jobs, contributing little to economic growth and prosperity. Thus, it can be argued that the centralization and standardization of products is, at best, a neutral economic development, while negatively affecting our culture and individualism.

In conclusion, accessibility and consistency are seemingly convincing arguments in favor of the standardization of products, but they are overshadowed by the detrimental effects to our cultural and individual diversity.

(406 words, band 7)