Correct Option
The correct option is 2 and 3 only.
Explanation
Global economic integration occurs primarily through three channels: the movement of goods and services (Foreign Trade), the movement of capital (Foreign Investment), and the movement of people (Migration). While trade integrates markets for commodities, investment integrates production systems across borders.
Statement-wise Analysis
- Statement 1 is Incorrect: Foreign Trade refers to the exchange of goods and services between countries. It does not refer to the migration of skilled labour. The movement of labour is a distinct aspect of globalization, often categorized under the movement of natural persons or factor movements, separate from the trade in merchandise.
- Statement 2 is Correct: Foreign Investment involves the flow of capital from one country to another to acquire assets or establish production capabilities. Multinational Corporations (MNCs) play a central role in this by setting up offices, factories, or buying existing companies in foreign nations (Foreign Direct Investment).
- Statement 3 is Correct: Historically, foreign trade was the primary channel connecting countries. For centuries, nations traded raw materials and finished goods (e.g., via the Silk Road) long before the rise of modern MNCs and the substantial flow of foreign investment that characterizes the contemporary global economy.
Key Takeaway
Foreign Trade integrates markets through the exchange of goods and services, whereas Foreign Investment integrates production through the movement of capital and ownership of assets by MNCs.