Disclaimer: This essay is provided as an example of work produced by students studying towards a economics degree, it is not illustrative of the work produced by our in-house experts. Click here for sample essays written by our professional writers.

This essay should not be treated as authoritative or accurate when considering investments or other financial products.

Positive and Negative effects of Globalization

Paper Type: Free Essay Subject: Economics
Wordcount: 5417 words Published: 22nd Jul 2021

Reference this

Part of: Globalisation

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.

Business management is the act of getting people together to accomplish desired goals and objectives. Globalization in short, points to the whole effort towards making the world global community as a one village. Globalization on business management is interconnection of international markets and managing businesses in a global industry. This includes foreign investments whereby a company expands its business and invest in foreign countries.

Globalization makes business management easier and efficient for the company.

Based on my research, Globalization simplifies business management in the world. This is due to the advancement in technology, transport, communication, education, and regulations of trade that makes trade fair to all parties. This attracts more people to engage in international business and international trade. Managers within the global face a lot of challenges due to high competition in the industry, good decisions must be made in order to satisfy and maintain their customers and attract more customers for their products. Companies enjoy economies of scale in the business due to reduction of cost in the management.

Get Help With Your Essay

If you need assistance with writing your essay, our professional essay writing service is here to help!
Find out more about our Essay Writing Service

This report explores a range of interlinking questions, starting with what is globalization, what are the effects of globalization in developing countries and developed countries, this is in terms of positive and negative effects. Globalization is something that affects all of us, no matter what our profession or interest is.

Globalization is a very wide and a very important focus of discussion. I spent time researching what it is and the effects it has in developed countries and developing countries. So in this report I will define what globalization is and the effects according based on my research. Globalization despite having benefits to the world, it also has a negative effects of it.

INTRODUCTION.

Globalization in short, points to the whole effort towards making the world global community as a one village. Goods that were only found in western countries can now be found across the globe. Now under developed areas can enjoy the benefits of scientific advances and industrial progress available in developed countries for the improvement and growth of their areas.

Because of globalization the economies of the world are being increasingly integrated, example mobile phones and internet have brought people closer. The world is becoming a smaller place. Work can be outsourced to any part of the world that has an internet connection because of improvements in traffic infrastructure one is able to reach one’s destination in a short time.

Globalization can also be defined as an ongoing process by which regional economies, societies and cultures have become integrated through a globe-spanning network of communication and trade. The process of globalization includes a number of factors which are rapid technology developments that make global communications possible, political developments such as the fall of communism, and transportation developments that make traveling faster and more frequent. These produce greater development opportunities for companies with the opening up of additional markets, allow greater customer harmonization as a result of the increase in shared cultural values, and provide a superior competitive position with lower operating costs in other countries and access to new raw materials, resources, and investment opportunities.

Globalization through global communications, global markets and global production have promoted and facilitated by a fourth area of global activity in relation to money. For example, the American dollar, the Japanese yen, Euro and other major national currencies circulate globally. They are being used anywhere on earth and moving electronically and via air transport anywhere in effectively no time. Most bankcards can extract cash in local currency from the thousands of automated teller machines (ATMs) across the world. Also credit cards like Visa, MasterCard and American Express can be used for payments in almost every country in the globe (Scholte J.A., 2000).

People can move from one country to another, trade restrictions are reducing, domestic markets are opening up for foreign investments, telecommunications are better established and the countries that are leading the innovations are passing on their technologies to other countries in need (Kulkami A., 2009).

EFFECTS OF GLOBALIZATION ON BUSINESS MANAGEMENT IN DEVELOPED COUNTRIES.

Globalization has brought benefits in developed countries as well as negative effects. The positive effects include a number of factors which are education, trade, technology, competition, investments and capital flows, employment, culture and organization structure.

POSITIVE EFFECTS

It would be rather difficult to discuss the extent of the positives that globalization has had on the world at large. But still, here are some of the positive effects of globalization and the positive impacts they have had on so many demographic segments of society.

Global market.

Most successful emerging markets in developed countries are a result of privatization of state owned industries. In order for these industries to increase consumer demand many of them are attempting to expand and extend their value chain to an international level. The impact of globalization on business management is seen by the sudden increase of number of transactions across the borders. In protecting yields and maintaining competitiveness, businesses are continuing to develop a wide range of their footprint as it lowers cost and enjoys economies of scale (Shah A.,2009)

Multinational corporations is a result of globalization. They occupy a central role within the process of globalization as evidenced through global foreign direct investment inflows. Their concentrations within Europe in western economies has led to size constraints, therefore there is a need for new geographical areas to operate whereby they will face a lot of competition in the market. Through this they will enlarge their market and enjoy economies of scale as globalization facilitates time space compression, economies compete at all levels including that of attracting investors (Smith V.A and Omar M.,2005).

Cross-cultural management

Globalization tend to be the realm of elite because in many parts of the world they are the only people who are affluent enough to buy many of the products available in the global marketplace. Highly educated and wealthy people from different backgrounds interact within a westernized milieu. Western styles, since are symbols of affluence and power, the elite often embraces western styles of products and pattern of behavior in order to impress others. Today Western culture and patterns of behavior and language are staples of international business (Asgary N. and Walle A.H.,2002).

United states seems to have powerful impact upon many other countries and societies. The world today has a popular cultural force. The popular consumer culture of the economically dominant West is relentlessly and inevitably transforming other regions, cultures, nations and societies. In addition, such perspective imply that technological change, mass media, and consumer oriented marketing campaigns work in tandem to remake whatever they touch in their own image. Even attitudes and ideas about society, religion and technology are transformed by cultural diffusion brought by globalization. Example, in America McDonalds represent fast, cheap and convenient food while it is not the same worldwide. It’s of high price in other countries like China and Russia where it involves cultural experience (Walle A.H, 2002)

Foreign trade

Globalization has created and expanded foreign trade in the world. Things that were only found in developed countries can now be found in other countries across the world. People can now get whatever they want and from any country. Through this developed countries can export their goods to other countries. Countries do business through international trade, whereby they import and export goods across the global. These countries which export goods get comparative advantages. Organizations have been established with a view to control and regulate the trade activities of the countries in the world so to have fair trade. World trade organizations emerged as a powerful international organization capable effectively influencing individual governments to follow international trade rules, copyrights, policies on subsidies, taxes and tariffs. Nations can not break rules without facing economic consequences (Piaseck R. and Wolnicki M., 2004) .

The number of nations that are dependent on trade, foreign capital, and the world financial markets increased greatly. Countries engaged in foreign trade enjoy comparative advantage. The post Recardian trade theories predicted that specialization in labor and capital intensive goods would bridge enormous wage gaps between the poor and the rich countries, that is the developing and developed countries, sparing the latter from massive labor immigration (Gerber J., 2002).

Resource Imperative

Developed countries need natural and human resources of the developing countries while developing countries need capital, technology and brainpower of the wealthier countries. Developed countries’ economies are increasingly dependent on the natural and human resources of the developing nations. Growing interdependence of nations and their activities on one another fostered by the depletion of natural resources; as well as overpopulation (Harris P.R.,2002).

Foreign investment

One of the most visible positive effects of globalization in India is the flow of foreign capital. A lot of companies have directly invested in India, by starting production units in India, but what we also need to see is the amount of Foreign Investment Inflow that flows into the developing countries. Indian companies which have been performing well, both in India and off the shores, will attract a lot of foreign investment, and thus pushes up the reserve of foreign exchange available in India. This is also one of the positive effects of globalization in US and other developed countries as developing countries give them a good investment proposition.

Managers’ objectives might not be the same with those of stockholders in some situations. The more complex the corporation the more difficult it is for shareholders to monitor management’s actions whereby it provides the managers more freedom to act in their own self interest at the expense of shareholders. Multinational firms are more complex than national firms. Managers might favor international diversification because it reduces firm specific risk or adds to their prestige. These goals might be of little interest to shareholders. This divergence of interests between shareholders and managers, might reduce the value of multinationals relative to domestic firms (Saudagaran S.M.,2002)

Competition

One of the most visible positive effects of globalization is the improved quality of products due to globe competition. Customer service and the ‘customer is the king’ approaches to production have led to improved quality of products and services. As the domestic companies have to fight out foreign competition, they are compelled to raise their standards and customer satisfaction levels in order to survive in the market. Besides, when a global brand enters a new country, it comes in riding on some goodwill, which it has to live up to. This creates competition in the market and a survival of the fittest situation.

Culture

The positive effects of globalization on culture are many! Not all good practices were born in one civilization. The world that we live in today is a result of several cultures coming together. People of one culture, if receptive, tend to see the flaws in their culture and pick up the culture which is more correct or in tune with the times. Societies have become larger as they have welcomed people of other civilizations and backgrounds and created a whole new culture of their own. Cooking styles, languages and customs have spread all due to globalization. The same can be said about movies, musical styles and other art forms. They too have moved from one country to another, leaving an impression on a culture which has adopted them.

Legal Effects

Increased media coverage draws the attention of the world to human rights violations. This leads to improvement in human rights. Global economic growth does not necessarily make people happier, worldwide free trade, should also benefit humanity as well as protect nature, not just reward managers and stockholders. Those who would be authentic leaders need to address inequalities. Globalization should promote openness and information along with exchange with greater democracy and prosperity (Harris P.R., 2002).

Gone are the days where the limited jurisdiction became a hindrance in the prosecution of criminals. These days due to international courts of justice, these criminals can no longer seek asylum in a foreign country, but will be brought forward and there will be justice. Due to globalization, there is also an understanding between the security agencies and the police of two or more different countries who will come together to curbglobal terrorism. Hence, it is now possible to catch the perpetrators of crime irrespective of which country they choose to hide in. This is undoubtedly one of the greatest positive effects of globalization on society.

NEGATIVE EFFECTS

Globalization also have its side effects to the developed nations. These include some factors which are jobs insecurity, fluctuation in prices, terrorism, fluctuation in currency, capital flows and so on.

JOBS INSECURITY.

In developed countries people have jobs insecurity. People are losing their jobs. Developed nations have outsourced manufacturing and white collar jobs. That means less jobs for their people. This is because the manufacturing work is outsourced to countries where the costs of manufacturing goods and wages are lower than in their countries. They have outsourced to developing countries like China and India. Most people like accountants, programmers, editors and scientists have lost jobs due to outsourcing to cheaper locations like India.

Globalization has led to exploitation of labor. Safety standards are ignored to produce cheap goods. “In practice, however, the recent experience in Latin America has been that many such open-handed multinationals moved their operations to, for example, China or South East Asia because of cost and market considerations”(Piasecki R. and Wolnicki M., 2004).

FLUCTUATION IN PRICES.

Globalization has led to fluctuation in price. Due to increase in competition, developed countries are forced to lower down their prices for their products, this is because other countries like China produce goods at a lower cost that makes goods to be cheaper than the ones produced in developed countries. So, in order for the developed countries to maintain their customers they are forced to reduce prices of their goods. This is a disadvantage to them because it reduces the ability to sustain social welfare in their countries.

EFFECTS OF GLOBALIZATION ON BUSINESS MANAGEMENT IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES.

POSITIVE EFFECTS.

“I know that globalization has also created many negative effects, but I believe it’s always better to look to the future with optimism and hope. Tomorrow, hopefully, we will be able to minimize or even eradicate the evil forces that give globalization a bad name. Thus we will be able to move forward with peace and harmony”(Kulkami A., 2009)

Poverty alleviation

As far as poverty reduction is concerned, globalization played a role in poverty reduction in developing countries. In deed most developed countries experienced reduction in poverty in the proportion of their living below the poverty line, including fast developing countries like China, India, Vietnam. While other countries like Sub-Saharan Africa registered an opposite trend (Lee E., 2006).

Employment situation.

Through globalization, people from different countries are provided with jobs opportunities within the global. It has created the concept of outsourcing. Developed countries prefer to provide work to developing countries where costs are cheap. Work such as customer support, software development, accounting, marketing and insurance are given to developing countries like India. Therefore the country that is given the work enjoys by getting jobs.

It has given an opportunity to invest in the emerging markets and tap up the talent which is available there. In developing countries, there is often a lack of capital which hinders the growth of domestic companies and hence, employment. In such cases, due to global nature of the businesses, people of developing countries too can obtain gainful employment opportunities (Pillai P.,2008).

Technology

This is a powerful force that drives the world toward a converging commonality. It has proletarianized communication, transport, and travel. People from different places everywhere wants all the things they have heard about, seen, or experienced through technology. Organizations through its managements can obtain knowledge from different places in the world that can be used in the organization.

Television and medias played a big role in influencing the perception of the world, from a relatively small national unity and reality, into a global market and international concerns. As multinationals establish subsidiaries in new locations, they transfer know how from the parent to the local operation. Knowledge flows from one unit to another as a whole organization benefits from development activity. One of the ways that organizations use in knowledge transfer is the movement of personnel, which takes place within multinationals. This build up a bank of knowledge about working in different situations with people from different cultures and this represents a stock of knowledge that could be developed and used to benefit the organization (Kamoche, 1997).

Education.

Globalization from the point of view has positive effects as well as negative effects. It has increased the access of higher education example universities and reducing the knowledge gap in developing countries, it equally has negative aspects which can seriously threaten universities in those countries. From point of view it has brought more positive effects to developing countries through increasing access to higher learning institutions. Today you can move in the search of the best educational facilities in the world including developing countries without any hindrance. This is due to increased output from secondary schools, greater participation of women in higher education, a growing private sector demand for graduates, and the exorbitant costs of acquiring education in foreign countries, especially those in the nort (Mohamedbhai G., 2002).

Foreign trade

Despite having negative effects of globalization, it has a good side too. One of the most significant effect it has brought to developing countries is Trade. Before people used to exchange goods for goods or services for services but now people can trade goods for money. This is mostly through International trade whereby people exports and imports goods within countries. Globalization has led to reduction of costs in trade within the globe. It has led to reduction of tax of importation of goods.

According to economic theory, foreign trade is in principle, beneficial to any country engaged. The international division of labor allocates the resources more efficient whereby it increases the economic welfare of all countries engaged in foreign trade in long run (Kaitilia V and Kotilainen M., 2002).

Foreign investment

Foreign investment is a direct result of globalization. Foreign investment is always welcomed as it provides resources, capital and technology to a country that will support economic development of the host country. This improves employment as in direct and indirectly. Increases exports to a country and thereby improves the current account and therefore will help to the repayment of foreign debt. This however has some criticisms for leading to too much foreign control (Kaitilia V and Kotilainen M., 2002).

Developing countries can use general or specific industrial and trade policies to be more or less welcoming to foreign direct investments, capital and foreign tourist services. They can directly and indirectly shape their participation in the economic activities in the globe (Piasecki R. and Wolnicki M., 2004).

Market sector

Globalization of markets in developing countries is growing so fast. The emergence of global markets for standardized consumer products on a previously unimagined scale of magnitude. This brought benefits which are economies of scale in production, reduced world prices, distribution, marketing and management (Levitt T., 1983)

IKEA is one of the company that is growing fast in developed countries. Its market is increasing within the global. It has become the world’s largest home furnishings retailer. The managers are facing a lot of challenges in managing them (Nanda A., 1990). IKEA can now be found in so many places in the world example Malaysia.

NEGATIVE EFFECTS

Globalization is a tool that benefits all sections of mankind. We cannot ignore the negative effects it has in developing world.

Unemployment

Globalization is a blame to world’s unemployment situation though it brought some jobs opportunities. Despite the fact that it brought jobs opportunities to the global but it is still a blame to the current situation. “It ‘s true that global economic integration and increased travel have resulted in increased competitiveness at the national and enterprise levels, forcing producers to find ways to cut costs, improve efficiency, and raise productivity”(Kigundu M.N.,2002).

“The most important factor to determine the level of employment during 1980-2000 was national or regional macroeconomic policies which were implemented and sustained. In addition those countries with liberal macroeconomic reforms, pursued politics promoting flexible labor markets and employment practices, decentralized industrial relations systems, and judicious enforcement of labor. On the other hand, countries with employment laws, regulations, and policies experienced higher level of employment because they were not able to attract and retain as many new jobs”(Kiggundu M.N.,2002).

For example ,Indonesia faced unemployment and poverty that grew to levels not experienced in two decades, health conditions worsened, and the natural environment degraded (Piasecki R and Wolnicki M.,2004)

Spread of fast foods chain.

Fast foods chain is growing very fast. But some of the most rapid growth is occurring in the developing countries, where it’s real changing the way people eat. “Kentucky Fried Chicken(KFC) is the largest, fastest growing, and highest potential units” (Bartlett C.,1986).

Most people prefer to buy fast foods because it’s cheap and quick. This replaces home cooked fare enjoyed with family and friends. Traditional diets and recipes are yielding to sodas, burgers, and other highly processed and standardized items that have a lot of fat, sugar, and salt resulting a global epidemic of diabetes, obesity, and other chronic diseases. Meanwhile, fast food producers require farmers to raise uniform fields of crops and herds of livestock for easy processing, eliminating agricultural diversity.

Western culture.

Globalization has led to the spread of western culture and influence at the expense of local culture in developing countries like Africa. Most people now in developing countries cop what people in developed countries do. So, its like they ignore their own culture and practice western culture ( Goyal K.A., 2006). For example dressing styles and eating habits, language. All these can affect management in one way or another example it can cause misunderstandings because of language barrier.

Trade

Average tariff rates continue to be high in many developing countries, including some that have recently implemented trade reforms. Example,India. Trade policy continues to be an important aspect in globalization at least in some of the lower income developing countries.

Widespread use of computers, faxes and mobile phones, introduction of the internet and e-commerce, and quicker and cheaper means of transportation in some cases offered opportunities to developing countries, but in many cases deepened the gap between global firms and traditional industries globalization opened up new opportunities for developing countries to create jobs and expand exports. In practice, many developing countries competing for foreign investors offered longer tax holidays, costly subsidies, and various incentives for multinationals. The competition among developing nations reduced positive net effects of globalization or, at best, delayed them.

REFERENCES.

  • http://www.oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/?p=1872
  • http://www.unescap.org/esid/hds/issues/GlobalizationHealth.pdf
  • http://www.un.int/turkey/3.pdf least developed countries
  • Lee E,2006…..Poverty Alleviation, from http://ftp.iza.org/dp1925.pdf ILO,GENEVA
  • (Foreign trade) How does globalization affect developing countries economically, article 3/2002 from http://www.etla.fi/files/918_FES_02_3_developing_countries.pdf
  • FOREIGN INVESTMENT, from http://www.etla.fi/files/918_FES_02_3_developing_countries.pdf
  • Impacts of globalization from www.emeraldinsight.com
  • Does globalization affect growth? http://129.3.20.41/eps/dev/papers/0210/0210004.pdf
  • http://www.oit.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/—dgreports/—integration/documents/publication/wcms_079177.pdf
  • http://books.google.com/books?q=effects+of+globalization&btnG=Search+Books
  • Effects of financial globalization on developing countries by Eswar S. Prasad, Kenneth Rogoff, Shang-Jin Wei, and M.Ayhan Kose, International Monetary Fund, Washington DC,2003 from http://books.google.com/books?id=eBcFQ3DUcQEC&printsec=frontcover&dq=effects+of+globalization&cd=1#v=onepage&q=&f=false
  • Global Employment situation, Managing globalization on developing countries, by Moses N. Kiggundu,2002 ….United States Of America from http://books.google.com/books?id=OejvLdnW-oMC&pg=PA293&dq=effects+of+globalization+on+developing+countries&cd=2#v=onepage&q=effects%20of%20globalization%20on%20developing%20countries&f=false
  • http://books.google.com/books?id=BU9sU7sG3DoC&pg=PA131&dq=effects+of+globalization+on+developing+countries&lr=&cd=12#v=onepage&q=effects%20of%20globalization%20on%20developing%20countries&f=false
  • Managing globalization on developing countries, by Moses N. Kiggundu ,2002 ….United States Of America from http://books.google.com/books?id=OejvLdnW-oMC&pg=PA293&dq=effects+of+globalization+on+developing+countries&cd=2#v=onepage&q=effects%20of%20globalization%20on%20developing%20countries&f=false
  • Effects of globalization in Latin American countries http://books.google.com/books?id=ilL3tOo8My0C&pg=PA139&dq=effects+of+globalization+on+developing+countries&cd=3#v=onepage&q=effects%20of%20globalization%20on%20developing%20countries&f=false
  • Jobs opportuinities in devpng countries,by Prabhakar Pillai,2008, http://www.buzzle.com/articles/negative-effects-of-globalization.html
  • Positive effects of globalizationhttp://www.buzzle.com/articles/positive-effects-of-globalization.html
  • Negative Effects of globalization in developing countrieshttp://global_india1.tripod.com/negative.htm
  • Technology in developing countries from http://www.freeonlineresearchpapers.com/how-globalization-effects-third
  • Effects of globalization, global market in developed countires http://www.globalissues.org/article/768/global-financial-crisis
  • Smith V.A and Omar M.,2005, effects of globalization, www.emeraldinsight.com_Insight_ViewContentServlet_contentType=Article&Filename=_published_emeraldfulltextarticle_pdf_0540170105.
  • Effects of globalization in developing countries,infranstructure from by Smith V.A and Omar M.,2005 from www.emeraldinsight.com_Insight_ViewContentServlet_contentType=Article&Filename=_published_emeraldfulltextarticle_pdf_0540170105.
  • Cross cultural management in developed countries, Nader Asgary and Alf H. Walle, volume 9, 2002 from www.emeraldinsight.com_Insight_ViewContentServlet_contentType=Article&Filename=_published_emeraldabstractonlyarticle_pdf_1360090303.
  • Foreign Investmet in developed countries,A review of the literature on the market Valuation of Multinational Firms, by Saudagaran S.M., vol 28 No. 3, 2002 from www.emeraldinsight.com_Insight_ViewContentServle_contentType=Article&Filename=published_emeraldabstractonolyarticle_pdf_0090280301.
  • Unemployment situation in developing countries, Piasecki R and Wolnicki M.,2004 from www.emeraldinsight.com_Insight_ViewContentServlet_contentType=Article&Filename=_published_emeraldfulltextarticle_pdf_0060310306.
  • International Trade in developed countries, Piasecki R and Wolnicki M.,2004 from www.emeraldinsight.com_Insight_ViewContentServlet_contentType=Article&Filename=_published_emeraldfulltextarticle_pdf_0060310306.
  • Jobs insecurity in developed countries, the evolution of development economics and globalization, by Piasecki R. and Wolnicki M.,vol. 31 No.3, 2004 from www.emeraldinsight.com_Insight_ViewContentServlet_contentType=Article&Filename=_published_emeraldfulltextarticle_pdf_0060310306.
  • Effects of globalization, Globalization and Its Implications on Universities in developing countries by Mohamedbhai G.,2002 from www.emeraldinsight.com_MohamedbhaIGoolam2.pdf
  • Effects of globalization in developed countries, developing global organization, by Harris P.R vol 14 No. 6, 2002 pp 416-425 from www.emeraldinsight.com_Insight_ViewContentServlet_contentType=Article&Filename=_published_emeraldfulltextarticle_pdf_0540140603.
  • http://www.indianmba.com/Faculty_Column/FC954/fc954.html
  • http://books.google.com/books?id=e2b8TvlNxJ0C&pg=PA41&dq=definition+of+globalization&cd=1#v=onepage&q=definition%20of%20globalization&f=false
  • Impact of globalization on developing countries by Goyal K.A, Issue 5, 2006 from http://www.eurojournals.com/IRJFE%206%20goyal.pdf
  • Ricardo D.(1911) as cited in Piasecki R. and Wolnicki M., Vol. 31 No. 3, 2004, evolution of development economics and globalization from www.emeraldinsight.com_Insight_ViewContentServlet_contentType=Article&Filename=_published_emeraldfulltextarticle_pdf_0060310306.
  • Kamoche K. (1996) as cited in Kidger P.J., Vol 24 No. 1, 2002 pp.69-85, Management structure in multinational enterprises Responding to globalization from www.emeraldinsight.com_Insight_ViewContentServlet_contentType=Article&Filename=_published_emeraldfulltextarticle_pdf_0190240104.

 

Cite This Work

To export a reference to this article please select a referencing stye below:

Reference Copied to Clipboard.
Reference Copied to Clipboard.
Reference Copied to Clipboard.
Reference Copied to Clipboard.
Reference Copied to Clipboard.
Reference Copied to Clipboard.
Reference Copied to Clipboard.

Related Services

View all

Related Content

Collections

Content relating to: "Globalisation"

Globalization in short, points to the whole effort towards making the international global community act as though they were a single village. Goods that were only found in Western countries can now be found across the globe. Under-developed countries and regions can enjoy the benefits of scientific advances and industrial progress...

Related Articles

DMCA / Removal Request

If you are the original writer of this essay and no longer wish to have your work published on UKEssays.com then please: