"Globalisation of the World Economy - Challenges and Responses"

Programme of Work

Increasing globalisation presents ever greater challenges for society and policy-makers. The German Bundestag's study commission has the task of identifying concrete fields of action and countering or preventing undesirable developments. The commission will lay the basis for and prepare the decisions which need to be taken by the German Bundestag.

1. The German Bundestag's decision setting up the Study Commission (printed paper 14/2350) outlines the main points of its work. It serves as a guideline for the commission. The preparatory work setting up the Commission was supported by all parties and there was cross-party agreement on the issues to be discussed.
Accordingly, the study commission will investigate the causes and effects of globalisation, establish where action is required, analyse possible courses of action and examine the following areas:
- goods markets
- Financial markets
- labour and services markets
- Agriculture and food
- Education
- Research and development
- Environment
- Cultural affairs
- Relationship between industrialised nations and newly industrialised or developing countries
As a first step the study commission will - before it begins its work of providing analysis and making policy recommendations - seek to define the nature and causes of globalisation. Against the background of experience gained at national and international level and taking into account interactions between national and supranational policies (also with regard to occurrences such as natural disasters, wars and epidemics), the following topics will until presentation of the interim report and in preparation for the final report be investigated in line with the decision setting up the commission:
1. Financial globalisation
2. Goods and services markets, including direct investments
3. Natural resources, including agriculture and the environment
4. Jobs, job quality and quality of life
5. Distribution of income, wealth and economic power
6. Global knowledge society
7. Global public - global culture
8. New (formal and informal) international and regional regulatory systems and their relationship to national policy
9. Transfer of sovereign rights and competencies to supranational and sub-national levels
10. Informal policy networks
These topics will be examined not only in terms of their national significance, but also from an international perspective - in line with the decision setting up the study commission. This examination will take place on the basis of a thorough and targeted evaluation (and synopsis) of the existing studies and recommendations for action, with due regard to the criteria of interdependence, the complexity of the decision-making processes and their direct and indirect effects. Numerous studies, as well as scientifically sound political conclusions at national, international and multilateral level, are available on all the topics. The evaluation of these studies will highlight areas where further expert advice is needed and the necessary research will be commissioned. This will be complemented by specialist discussions and hearings on all topics.
Contacts to international institutions and organisations (e.g.: ILO, WTO, UNCTAD, OECD, IWF and World Bank) will help to further clarify questions related to the relevant topics and areas of investigation. The problems of newly industrialised countries, the transition economies of Eastern Europe and the developing countries will also require closer examination.
The work of the study commission is divided into four phases:
- During the first phase of the work - the "screening phase" - preparations will be made for the later work on substantive issues by compiling and screening material and conducting talks with institutions, organisations and groups within society. This phase should be completed by the end of the 2000 summer recess.
- The second phase - which will begin before the end of the first phase - will essentially involve discussion on the nature and causes of globalisation. During this phase, the study commission will start formulating the requirements for and commissioning external expert opinions.
- During the third phase, it will be possible to draw initial conclusions from the commission's findings available thus far. The main task will be to assess the effects of globalisation on economy and society in Germany and the policy conclusions which Germany needs to draw from this. The study commission will discuss these findings with groups targeted or affected by policy. These findings will also form the basis of a draft interim report by the study commission.
- During the fourth phase, the challenges which globalisation poses for German policy at national and multilateral level will be discussed. Contacts with the United Nations and other multilateral organisations are of particular importance in this context. Hearings will be held and studies commissioned to enable the resulting insights to be evaluated in greater depth. Particular emphasis will be placed on the topics of financial globalisation, international regulatory systems, the global knowledge society, the global public and global culture. The findings produced and the political conclusions to be drawn from them will form the basis for the study commission's final report to be presented at the end of the 14th electoral term.

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