LISTENING. You will hear Ajit Singh, Professor of Economics at Cambridge University, talking about free trade and unemployment

You will hear Ajit Singh, Professor of Economics at Cambridge University, talking about free trade and unemployment.

A. Listen to the first part of the interview, and then listen a second time and complete the following sentences.

1. Formerly, the less developed countries were against free trade because …

2. Countries like South Korea and Malaysia are competitive today because they’ve been able to …

3. Free trade is disruptive; in other words …

4. The advantage of free trade is that …

5. People in industrial countries can only put up with the disruption caused by free trade if …

B. Listen to the second part of the interview and answer these questions.

1. What would African countries need to do if they wanted to develop a car industry?

2. What does Ajit Singh say could lead to full employment in the rich countries?

3. What does he say will be the consequence if mass unemployment continues?

4. Does he foresee an end to mass unemployment?

SPEAKING

A.

Read the dialogue, identify how each speaker makes himself sound ‘nice’. Act the conversation out.

Rusconi:	Jupiter Products. Tony Rusconi speaking.
Garcia:	Hello, this is Al Garcia.
Rusconi:	Hello, Mr Garcia. How are you?
Garcia:	Fine, thanks. I’m phoning about our delivery next week.
Rusconi:	Ah, yes, good. I was just about to call you. Er … could you tell me when we can expect the consignment to arrive in our warehouse?
Garcia:	Yes, as far as I know, the trucks should arrive late Thursday or early Friday, it depends on traffic and weather. Er … what time will you accept deliveries?
Rusconi:	The latest time we can start unloading is 4 pm, but we can start as early as 7.30 am. Could you tell me whose trucks are delivering the goods?
Garcia:	Yes, certainly. Two of them will be ours, and the others are on hire from Alpha Transport.
Rusconi:	Let me just make a note of that. Can you tell me how you spell Alpha?
Garcia:	Yes, of course. It’s A-L-P-H-A.
Rusconi:	Fine. And I’d also like to know how many trucks will be coming.
Garcia:	Ah … there will be five altogether.
Rusconi:	Can you tell me if they will arrive on the same day?
Garcia:	I’m not entirely sure, but as two will be setting off half a day early, they should arrive Thursday. The other three will arrive towards midday Friday. Could you let me know how long it will take to unload each truck?
Rusconi:	Yes, each truck will take about an hour. I think you should know that we can’t unload more than two trucks at a time.
Garcia:	I see, well, thanks for letting me know that. I wonder if you can tell me what’ll happen if one of the trucks arrives later and can’t be unloaded on Friday? Do you know if it can be unloaded on Saturday?
Rusconi:	I’m afraid I don’t know, it might have to wait till Monday. You’d have to ask our warehouse manager about that.
Garcia:	Could you just remind me what his name is again?
Rusconi:	Yes, of course. He’s Mr Ferrari.
Garcia:	Ah, and can you tell me his number?
Rusconi:	Yes, it’s 345 9800 extension 71.
Garcia:	Good. Thank you very much. It’s nice to talk to you. Goodbye.
Rusconi:	Bye now, Mr Garcia.

B.

Role-play

Divide into two groups – economists and the government.

The government use arguments to advocate trade restrictions.

The economists prove the benefits of free trade.

C.

1. Do you agree that people’s tastes today are more homogeneous? Why? Which products do you know of that are found in most parts of the world today?

2. What does your country export and import? What are the reasons for this?

3. Which countries are your major trading partners?

4. Which ‘uneconomic’ (or internationally uncompetitive) sectors, if any, do you think should be protected in your country?

5. Would total free trade result in the creation of jobs, or in unemployment, in your country?