The topic of How Global Trade Agreements Affect Small-scale Industries is increasingly relevant in today’s interconnected world economy. This subject has appeared in various forms in past IELTS Writing Task 2 questions and is likely to continue being a popular theme in future exams. Its significance stems from the ongoing debates about globalization, economic policies, and their impacts on local businesses and communities.
Based on an analysis of past IELTS exams and current global economic trends, we’ve identified a relevant question that closely aligns with this topic:
Some people think that governments should provide financial assistance to small-scale local businesses to protect them from the effects of global trade agreements. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Let’s examine this question and provide sample essays for different band scores, along with detailed analyses to help you understand the scoring criteria and improve your IELTS Writing skills.
Question Analysis
This question requires you to express your opinion on government support for small local businesses in the context of global trade agreements. Key points to consider:
- The main issue: Financial assistance from governments to small-scale local businesses
- The reason: To protect them from the effects of global trade agreements
- Your task: Agree or disagree, and to what extent
Remember to clearly state your position, provide well-developed reasons and examples, and maintain a coherent argument throughout your essay.
Sample Essay 1 (Band 8-9)
Global trade agreements have undoubtedly transformed the economic landscape, often presenting challenges for small-scale local businesses. While some argue that governments should provide financial assistance to protect these enterprises, I largely disagree with this approach, believing that more sustainable solutions exist.
Firstly, government financial aid to small businesses can create an unhealthy dependency and hinder their long-term competitiveness. By relying on subsidies, these companies may fail to innovate or adapt to changing market conditions, ultimately becoming less resilient in the face of global competition. Instead, governments should focus on creating an environment that fosters innovation and entrepreneurship, such as investing in education and infrastructure, which would better equip local businesses to compete on a global scale.
Moreover, providing financial assistance to small-scale businesses could potentially violate the terms of global trade agreements, leading to trade disputes and retaliation from other countries. This could result in broader economic consequences that outweigh the intended benefits of protecting local industries. A more effective approach would be to negotiate trade agreements that include provisions to support small businesses, such as gradual implementation periods or targeted capacity-building programs.
However, it is important to acknowledge that some level of government support may be necessary in certain circumstances. For instance, during periods of economic transition or in sectors of strategic importance, temporary assistance could help small businesses adapt to new market realities. The key is to ensure that any support is time-limited, targeted, and designed to enhance competitiveness rather than simply provide a financial cushion.
In conclusion, while the protection of small-scale local businesses is a valid concern, direct financial assistance from governments is not the most effective solution. Instead, policymakers should focus on creating a supportive business environment, negotiating fair trade agreements, and providing targeted, time-limited assistance where absolutely necessary. This balanced approach would better serve both local businesses and the broader economy in the long run.
(Word count: 309)
Impact of global trade agreements on small businesses
Essay Analysis (Band 8-9)
This essay demonstrates excellent qualities that align with Band 8-9 criteria:
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Task Response: The essay fully addresses all parts of the task, presenting a clear position with a well-developed argument. It considers multiple perspectives and offers nuanced insights.
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Coherence and Cohesion: The essay is well-organized with clear progression throughout. Each paragraph focuses on a specific idea, and there’s effective use of cohesive devices (“Firstly”, “Moreover”, “However”).
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Lexical Resource: The vocabulary is sophisticated and precise (“unhealthy dependency”, “hinder”, “foster innovation”, “gradual implementation periods”). There’s evidence of idiomatic language use (“economic landscape”, “financial cushion”).
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Grammatical Range and Accuracy: The essay demonstrates a wide range of complex structures used accurately (“While some argue that…”, “By relying on subsidies…”, “This balanced approach would better serve…”).
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Critical Thinking: The essay shows depth of critical thinking by considering multiple angles, potential consequences, and offering alternative solutions.
Sample Essay 2 (Band 6-7)
In today’s globalized world, small local businesses often struggle to compete with large international companies. Some people believe that governments should give financial help to these small businesses to protect them from the effects of global trade agreements. I partly agree with this idea, but I think there are both advantages and disadvantages to consider.
On one hand, providing financial assistance to small-scale local businesses can help them survive in a competitive market. Global trade agreements often make it easier for big foreign companies to enter local markets, which can be challenging for small businesses. Government support, such as loans or tax breaks, can give these local companies a chance to improve their products or services and become more competitive. This can help preserve local jobs and maintain diversity in the marketplace.
However, there are also drawbacks to this approach. If governments constantly provide financial help to small businesses, it might make them dependent on this support and less motivated to innovate or improve on their own. Additionally, using public money to support private businesses might not be fair to other taxpayers who don’t receive such benefits. It’s also possible that this kind of support could violate some international trade rules and cause problems with other countries.
I believe a better solution would be for governments to focus on creating a good business environment for all companies, both big and small. This could include improving education and training programs to help workers develop new skills, investing in infrastructure to make it easier for businesses to operate, and simplifying regulations for small businesses. Governments could also negotiate trade agreements that include special provisions to protect small local industries, at least for a certain period of time.
In conclusion, while I understand the argument for providing financial assistance to small-scale local businesses, I believe a more balanced approach would be more effective. Governments should aim to create conditions that allow small businesses to compete fairly, rather than relying solely on direct financial support.
(Word count: 309)
Government support for small businesses illustration
Essay Analysis (Band 6-7)
This essay demonstrates good qualities that align with Band 6-7 criteria:
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Task Response: The essay addresses the main parts of the task and presents a clear position. However, the ideas could be further developed and supported with more specific examples.
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Coherence and Cohesion: The essay is generally well-organized with clear paragraphing. There’s some use of cohesive devices (“On one hand”, “However”, “Additionally”), but these could be more varied.
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Lexical Resource: The vocabulary is generally appropriate and accurate (“globalized world”, “competitive market”, “preserve local jobs”). There’s some attempt at less common vocabulary, but it’s not as sophisticated as in the Band 8-9 essay.
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Grammatical Range and Accuracy: The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures with generally good control. There are some attempts at more complex structures, but not as consistently as in the higher band essay.
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Critical Thinking: The essay shows some critical thinking by considering both advantages and disadvantages. However, the analysis could be deeper and more nuanced.
Key Vocabulary
Here are some key vocabulary items from the essays, along with their definitions and pronunciations:
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Globalized (adjective) /ˈɡləʊbəlaɪzd/: Developed or expanded to operate on a worldwide scale.
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Competitive (adjective) /kəmˈpetətɪv/: Relating to or characterized by competition.
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Innovative (adjective) /ˈɪnəvətɪv/: Featuring new methods; advanced and original.
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Infrastructure (noun) /ˈɪnfrəstrʌktʃə(r)/: The basic physical and organizational structures and facilities needed for the operation of a society or enterprise.
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Provisions (noun) /prəˈvɪʒənz/: A condition or requirement in a legal document.
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Resilient (adjective) /rɪˈzɪliənt/: Able to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions.
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Retaliation (noun) /rɪˌtæliˈeɪʃn/: The action of returning a military attack; counterattack.
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Subsidies (noun) /ˈsʌbsədi/: A sum of money granted by the state or a public body to help an industry or business keep the price of a commodity or service low.
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Transition (noun) /trænˈzɪʃn/: The process or a period of changing from one state or condition to another.
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Violation (noun) /ˌvaɪəˈleɪʃn/: The action of violating someone or something.
Conclusion
The topic of global trade agreements and their impact on small-scale industries is likely to remain relevant in future IELTS Writing Task 2 exams. To prepare effectively, practice writing essays on related themes such as:
- The role of government in protecting local industries
- The benefits and drawbacks of globalization for small businesses
- Balancing economic growth with the preservation of local cultures and traditions
- The impact of multinational corporations on local economies
Remember to analyze the question carefully, plan your response, and use a range of vocabulary and grammatical structures appropriate to your target band score. Practice writing essays on these topics and share them in the comments section below for feedback and discussion. This active engagement will help you improve your writing skills and prepare more effectively for the IELTS Writing Task 2.
The influence of global trade agreements on local industries can be complex and multifaceted. By understanding these issues and practicing your essay writing skills, you’ll be better prepared to tackle similar questions in your IELTS exam. Good luck with your preparation!