Various dimensions of the globalisation process:

There are various dimensions of  the globalisation  process and the adoption of a  free trade policy that have not created a pro-poor economic climate. The structural adjustment programmes have overemphasised on the objectives of fiscal restraints that have resulted in a cut in spending on social sectors which, in turn,  has adversely affected the poverty profiles, especially  in  the rural areas of  the developing  countries. Poverty levels have also been affected due to capital-intensive industrialisation necessitated by'  the imperatives of raising competitiveness  in a liberalised global economy via  its effects on greater unemployment. This is particularly  important in the wake of  the fact that such situations are not backed by adequate social security schemes, reflecting poorly on the development strategy.

Due to asymmetric market access, under the WTO regime, between North and South in  both  industrial and agriculture sectors and continuation of heavy subsidies in the agriculture sector in the developed world, the export prospects of  the  South have been  marred, with ramifications on the employment prospects of  the rural poor. FDI as a tool of globalisation process has not been observed to be  always growth-propelling and on the other hand,  short-term capital  flows have led  to crisis  situations with catastrophic effects  on  the social dimensions  of  development.  The  technology market has become more segmented, inaccessible and unaffordable it has been increasingly becoming inappropriate for different sectors of the Southern economies.  

All  these  together  have influenced the  poverty  levels adversely and contributed to increased inequalities between countries and within a country between different income strata. They  have also affected  the social sectors like health and education.

Towards  the end, the ongoing pace and scope of negotiations at  the WTO only suggest that free  trade has largely been a policy strategy which the developed want the developing world to follow so  that the former can get market access and economic space in  the latter while at  the same time the former keep pursuing the protectionist policies.