Integration processes

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

Translated from Latin, “integration” means merging, joining separate parts into a whole, common, united. The general definition of the term can be formulated as an association, convergence or merger of parts, forming a common, unified whole, but at the same time retaining its identity.

Countries can approach each other, forming various alliances, for example, trade, economic, political, cultural, and so on, thereby maintaining their national identity. The main goal of integration can be called the expansion of the volume of goods and services that are based on the effective provision of activities, for example, integration processes in trade.

Integration also includes in its definition processes and phenomena in various spheres of society and the state: political, cultural, economic and others. Integration processes in the modern world are examples of movement, development of a certain system in which the connection of participants becomes stronger, while their independence decreases, new forms of interaction begin to appear. Both earlier and now, in the era of modern technologies, integration processesaccompanied by significant progress in science, economics, culture and even politics.

The development of such processes in the modern world at the micro and macro levels is the most important sign of integration. At the micro level, integration occurs through the interaction of the funds of individual companies and enterprises through the formation of economic agreements, transactions and contracts between them, through the creation of branches in other countries. Integration processes can also be created in other areas besides the economic one. At the macro level, integration can be global and regional. It is based on the development of the world market, production and communications.

In the modern world in the economic sphere, there are several forms and types of integration processes. One of the simplest forms is a free trade zone. In such a zone, various trade restrictions between the countries participating in the union are canceled, as well as trade duties are removed. The second form can be called a customs union. In addition to the free trade zone, it also establishes a foreign trade tariff, the same for all, and conducts a foreign trade policy in relation to other countries.

The third, more complex form of the integration process is the common market. It provides the members of the union with both free mutual trade and a common foreign trade tariff, freedom of movement of labor and, accordingly, capital, as well as coordination of economic policy. And, finally, the highest form of interstate integration in the field of economy iseconomic and monetary union, which combines all the above forms of integration. At this stage, political integration appears with its unified governing bodies.

Along with integration processes, special associations are also emerging, a feature of which is their successful development at the level of regional significance.