Includes bibliographical references (p. 602-621) and index.

The Shifting Contours of the Geo-Economy -- A New Geo-Economy -- The Changing Global Economic Map -- Processes of Global Shift -- Technology: The 'Great Growling Engine of Change' -- 'The State is Dead ... Long Live the State' -- Doing Things Differently: Variations in State Economic Policies -- Transnational Corporations: The Primary 'Movers and Shapers' of the Global Economy -- 'Webs of Enterprise': The Geography of Transnational Production Networks -- Dynamics of Conflict and Collaboration: Both Transnational Corporations and States Matter -- Global Shift: The Picture in Different Sectors -- 'Fabric-ating Fashion': The Textiles and Garments Industries -- 'Wheels of Change': The Automobile Industry -- 'Chips With Everything': The Semiconductor Industry -- 'Making the World Go Round': The Financial Services Industries -- 'Making the Connections, Selling the Goods': The Distribution Industries -- Winners and Losers in the Global Economy -- Making a Living in Developed Countries: Where Will the Jobs Come From? -- Making a Living in Developing Countries: Sustaining Growth, Enhancing Equity, Ensuring Survival -- Making the World a Better Place.

Now in a fully revised and expanded fourth edition, this comprehensive work is the definitive text on globalization. Students gain a solid understanding of the economic, political, and technological processes that are creating global shifts in economic activity and affecting local communities in highly uneven ways. Examined are the actions and interactions of two major groups of actors -- transnational corporations and states -- set within a volatile technological environment. Of special utility are detailed case studies of key global industries and more than 200 fully updated figures and tables. The fourth edition has been extensively rewritten to reflect the latest empirical and theoretical developments, and several entirely new chapters are included.