Think global, then think again—economic globalization in context

Summary Those who lament the absence of an agreed, secure definition of globalization are likely to remain in a state of despondency. In this paper, it is argued that the meaning of the term ‘economic globalization’ is context‐bound and that, depending upon the referent chosen to fix the term, the geographies of either manufacturing or service enterprises move into focus in what is, to till intents and purposes, a ‘home‐region’ affair.