By Buffalo, NY
Buffalo, NY – Competing in the new global economy requires "Global Brains." That is according to the author of "Global Brains: Knowledge and Competencies for the 21st Century." Dr. Gary Ferraro is speaking Tuesday at the Buffalo Niagara World Connect Distinguished Speaker Series.
Dr. Ferraro says those with "global brain" understand other cultures and the skills needed to be a world-class player in the 21st century global economy. Dr. Ferraro is a professor of Anthropology at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. His book, "Global Brains," examines how mainstream American values contrast those in other parts of the world. Ferraro says there has been dramatic change in the last 15 to 20 years and one of those changes is globalization.
"Since the fall of the Berlin Wall, there have been enormous changes. There's been a world-wide lowering of tariff barriers. There's been an expansion of free market economies. There's been the privatization of formerly state-controlled enterprises," Ferraro said.
Ferraro says those changes include the electronic and Internet revolution. He says there are a number "leading indicators" that are examples of a global economy.
"More Coca Cola is sold in Japan than there is in the United States," Ferraro continued. "With BMWs now being made in South Carolina and Nike running shoes being made in Taiwan, it's sometimes difficult to tell what the nationality of a certain brand name really is."
But while competing in the globally economy, Ferraro says one "must maintain integrity" and his or her own core values. Ferraro says whether doing business aboard or right here in the U.S. Americans are becoming more involved with people from all across the globe.