global economy

Cultural  

1. The international spread of capitalism, especially in recent decades, across national boundaries and with minimal restrictions by governments. The global economy has become hotly controversial. Critics allege that its props, free markets and free trade, take jobs away from well-paid workers in the wealthy nations while creating sweatshops in the poor ones. Its supporters insist that the free movement of capital stimulates investment in poor nations and creates jobs in them. The process is also called globalization.

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Example Sentences

Still, the monthslong shutdown of the key shipping lane has yet to fully ripple through the global economy.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026

The message is that AI is driving a fraction of the global economy now, but that will only get bigger, he said.

From MarketWatch • May 5, 2026

Relaxed security, Houthi attacks, and internal Somali crises are fueling piracy, which previously cost the global economy $18 billion annually.

From Barron's • May 4, 2026

In 2008, the shuddering global economy and soaring fuel prices helped push several airlines into bankruptcy.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 3, 2026

And the big questions in this era were: Where does my company fit into the global economy?

From "The World Is Flat" by Thomas L. Friedman