Globalization is a process of increasing economic integration between countries through trade and financial flows. It has led to rising trade as a percentage of GDP for most countries as global supply chains have developed. Smaller and poorer countries like Malawi have seen particularly large increases in trade as a share of their economy, reflecting their specialization in just a few primary exports and dependence on imports. While globalization can boost growth, it also exposes smaller economies to volatility from global markets.