...3. Investment Climate POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC STABILITY The Czech Republic is a fully-fledged parliamentary democracy, and is one of the faster growing economies as well as one of the ten countries that entered the European Union on 1 May 2004. The country’s economic policy is consistent and predictable. A strong and independent central bank (the Czech National Bank) has maintained an extraordinary degree of currency stability since 1991. The Czech Republic was the first CEE country to be admitted into the OECD. The country is a member of NATO and is fully integrated into other international organisations such as the WTO, IMF and EBRD. EU legislation was adopted in preparation for EU accession. Czech commercial, accounting and bankruptcy laws are compatible with Western standards. The Czech koruna is fully convertible. All international transfers (e.g. profits and royalties) related to an investment can be carried out freely and without delay. NON-DISCRIMINATION Under Czech law foreign and domestic entities are treated identically in all areas, from protection of property rights to investment incentives. The government does not screen any foreign investment projects with the exception of those in the defence and banking sectors. As an OECD member the Czech Republic is committed not to discriminate against foreign investors in privatisation sales, with the same exception as that mentioned above. INVESTMENT PROTECTION The Czech Republic is a member of the Multilateral Investment...
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...1 QUESTION 5: You are the CEO of a company that has to choose between making a $100 million investment in Russia or the Czech Republic. Both investments promise the same long-run return, so your choice is driven by risk considerations. Assess the various risks of doing business in each of these nations. Which investment would you favor and why? ANSWER 5: When assessing the risks of investment, one should consider the political, economic, and legal risks of doing business in both Russia and the Czech Republic. The political risk in Russia is still high but it is undergoing continual governmental changes under Putin’s leadership, and courting foreign investment. Relatively, the Czech Republic is more stable, but it may have less potential. On the economic front, both countries have inflation and high economic turmoil as unproductive factories are still struggling. From the legal perspective, the Czech Republic is making clear progress, while the situation in Russia is unclear. Thus at this time, the risk in Russia would clearly be higher. (For discussion or to modify this question, you might want to substitute other countries into this question depending on current events and the countries with which your students will be most familiar.) 2 QUESTION 4: You are the international manager of a US business that has just invented a revolutionary new personal computer that can perform the same functions as existing PCs but costs only half as much to manufacture. Several patents...
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...QUESTION 1: Mercantilism is a bankrupt theory that has no place in the modern world. Discuss. QUESTION 2: Is free trade fair? Discuss. QUESTION 3: Unions in developed nations often oppose imports from low-wage countries and advocate trade barriers to protect jobs from what they often characterize as “unfair” import competition. Is such competition “unfair”? Do you think that this argument is in the best interests of (a) the unions, (b) the people they represent, and/or (c) the country as a whole? QUESTION 4: What are the potential costs of adopting a free trade regime? Do you think governments should do anything to reduce these costs? What? QUESTION 5: The world’s poorest countries are at a competitive disadvantage in every sector of their economies. They have little to export. They have no capital; their land is of poor quality; they often have too many people given available work opportunities; and they are poorly educated. Free trade cannot possibly be in the interests of such nations! Discuss. Chapter 3: Sources of Comparative Advantage Critical Questions: QUESTION 1: In a world of zero transportation costs, no trade barriers, and nontrivial differences between nations with regard to factor conditions, firms must expand internationally if they are to survive. Discuss. QUESTION 2: A transnational strategy is responsive to pressures to have both a low cost and locally customized product offering.What do you see as the main organizational problems that...
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...these differences. Political differences are described along two dimensions: collectivist vs. individualist and democratic vs. totalitarian. Economic systems are explored in terms of market characteristics: market economies, command economies, and mixed economies. Legal systems are discussed in terms of the protections they offer for business: intellectual property, product safety, liability and contracts. The opening case explores the political and economic situation in Venezuela since Hugo Chavez was elected president in 1998. The closing case describes the challenges facing Indonesia, a vast country populated mainly by Muslims that stretches over 17,000 islands. Indonesia, after decades of corruption and a near dictatorship, now has a newly elected president. OUTLINE OF CHAPTER 2: NATIONAL DIFFERENCES IN POLITICAL ECONOMY Opening Case: Chavez’s Venezuela Introduction Political Systems Collectivism and Individualism Democracy and Totalitarianism Economic Systems Market Economy Command Economy Mixed Economy Legal...
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...Global Business Today 6e by Charles W.L. Hill McGraw-Hill/Irwin Copyright © 2009 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Chapter 2 National Differences in Political Economy Introduction Question: What is the political economy of a country? A country’s political economy refers to its political, economic, and legal systems These systems are interdependent, and interact and influence each other A country’s political system has major implications for the practice of international business 2-3 Political Systems A political system is the system of government in a nation Political systems can be assessed in terms of the degree to which they emphasize collectivism as opposed to individualism in terms of the degree to which they are democratic or totalitarian 2-4 Classroom Performance System The political, economic and legal systems of a country are called a) Political systems b) Economic systems c) Legal systems d) Political economy 2-5 Collectivism and Individualism Collectivism refers to a system that stresses the primacy of collective goals over individual goals Collectivism can be traced to the ancient Greek philosopher Plato Today, socialists support collectivism When collectivism is emphasized, the needs of the society as whole are generally viewed as being more important than individual freedoms 2-6 Collectivism and Individualism Socialism Modern socialists trace their roots to Karl Marx who advocated state...
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...Social Responsibility and Ethics Assessing the Environment Political, Economic, Legal, Technological Outline Opening Profile: Economic Crisis Spreads Through Financial Globalization The Global Business Environment Globalization Globality and Emerging Markets Effects of Institutions on Global Trade Effects of Globalization on Corporations Regional Trading Blocs The European Union (EU) Asia Comparative Management in Focus: China's Economy Keeps on Chugging. The Americas Other Regions in the World The Russian Federation The Middle East Developing Economies The African Union The Globalization of Human Capital The Global Manager's Role The Political and Economic Environment Political Risk Political Risk Assessment Managing Political Risk Managing Terrorism Risk Economic Risk The Legal Environment Contract Law Other Regulatory Issues The Technological Environment Global E-Business Conclusion Summary of Key Points Discussion Questions Application Exercises Experiential Exercise Internet Resources Case Study: Indian BPOs Waking Up to the Philippines Opportunity? Management Focus: Intel Brings Changes to Vietnam's Economy and Culture Information Technology OBJECTIVES: 1. To understand the global business environment and how it affects the strategic and operational decisions which managers must...
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... Lut12575_fm_i-xxvi.indd Page i 2/10/11 2:28 PM user-f494 /203/MHBR222/Lut12575_disk1of1/0078112575/Lut12575_pagefiles International Management Culture, Strategy, and Behavior Eighth Edition Fred Luthans University of Nebraska–Lincoln Jonathan P. Doh Villanova University Lut12575_fm_i-xxvi.indd Page ii 2/11/11 2:35 PM user-f494 /203/MHBR222/Lut12575_disk1of1/0078112575/Lut12575_pagefiles INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT: CULTURE, STRATEGY, AND BEHAVIOR, EIGHTH EDITION Published by McGraw-Hill, a business unit of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 1221 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020. Copyright © 2012 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Previous editions © 2009, 2006, and 2003. No part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written consent of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., including, but not limited to, in any network or other electronic storage or transmission, or broadcast for distance learning. Some ancillaries, including electronic and print components, may not be available to customers outside the United States. This book is printed on recycled, acid-free paper containing 10% postconsumer waste. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 QDB/QDB 1 0 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 ISBN 978-0-07-811257-7 MHID 0-07-811257-5 Vice President & Editor-in-Chief: Brent Gordon Vice President, EDP/Central Publishing Services: Kimberly Meriwether-David ...
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...as requested by the work’s original creator or licensee. Organization The overarching logic of the book is intuitive—organized around answers to the what, where, why, and how of international business. WHAT? Section one introduces what is international business and who has an interest in it. Students will sift through the globalization debate and understanding the impact of ethics on global businesses. Additionally, students will explore the evolution of international trade from past to present, with a focus on how firms and professionals can better understand today’s complex global business arena by understanding the impact of political and legal factors. The section concludes with a chapter on understanding how cultures are defined and the impact on business interactions and practices with tangible tips for negotiating across cultures. WHERE? Section two develops student knowledge about key facets of the global business environment and the key elements of trade and cooperation between nations and global organizations. Today, with increasing numbers of companies of all sizes operating internationally, no business or country can remain an island. Rather, the interconnections between countries, businesses, and institutions are inextricable. Even how we define the world is changing. No longer classified into simple and neat categories, the rapid changes within countries are redefining how global businesses think about developed, developing, and emerging markets....
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...Best Global Brands 2013 Table of Contents JEZ Leadership is evolving. It must now be shared. CEOs, CMOs, and consumers all have the power to drive brand value. Brands are where business strategy meets reality. GINNI The New Rules of Brand Leadership 2 From Information to Intelligence 82 Best Global Brands 2013 Sector Leadership 86 BISH 10 Creative Leadership 70 Methodology 120 China’s New Brand Leaders 74 Contributors 126 Corporate Citizenship 2.0 78 MARK CHIEKO The New Rules of Brand Leadership By Jez Frampton In our globalized, hyperconnected age, one question persists in boardrooms, corner offices, business schools, and conferences all over the world: What is leadership and how has it changed in the 21st century? Driven by rapid technological advancement, the digitization of nearly everything, and the ever more intricate interdependencies of the global market, the business landscape has transformed over the past two decades. Operating in a bewildering new environment in which little is certain, the pace is quicker and the dynamics more complex. Those who lead today’s brands can no longer rely on once immutable truths or principles of leadership honored in times past. It is a new world. And as purchasing increasingly shifts from a physical experience to a virtual one and transaction-based interactions between brands and consumers shift to relationship-based interactions, new skills and sensibilities are needed. Leadership...
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...Best Global Brands 2013 Table of Contents JEZ Leadership is evolving. It must now be shared. CEOs, CMOs, and consumers all have the power to drive brand value. Brands are where business strategy meets reality. GINNI The New Rules of Brand Leadership 2 From Information to Intelligence 82 Sector Leadership Best Global Brands 2013 10 86 BISH Methodology Creative Leadership 70 120 Contributors China’s New Brand Leaders 74 126 Corporate Citizenship 2.0 78 MARK CHIEKO The New Rules of Brand Leadership By Jez Frampton In our globalized, hyperconnected age, one question persists in boardrooms, corner offices, business schools, and conferences all over the world: What is leadership and how has it changed in the 21st century? Driven by rapid technological advancement, the digitization of nearly everything, and the ever more intricate interdependencies of the global market, the business landscape has transformed over the past two decades. Operating in a bewildering new environment in which little is certain, the pace is quicker and the dynamics more complex. Those who lead today’s brands can no longer rely on once immutable truths or principles of leadership honored in times past. It is a new world. And as purchasing increasingly shifts from a physical experience to a virtual one and transaction-based interactions between brands and consumers shift to relationship-based interactions, new skills and sensibilities are needed. Leadership roles...
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...Sixth Edition INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT Cheol S. Eun Bruce G. Resnick International Financial Management Sixth Edition The McGraw-Hill/Irwin Series in Finance, Insurance, and Real Estate Stephen A. Ross Franco Modigliani Professor of Finance and Economics Sloan School of Management Massachusetts Institute of Technology Consulting Editor FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT Adair Excel Applications for Corporate Finance First Edition Block, Hirt, and Danielsen Foundations of Financial Management Fourteenth Edition Brealey, Myers, and Allen Principles of Corporate Finance Tenth Edition Brealey, Myers, and Allen Principles of Corporate Finance, Concise Second Edition Brealey, Myers, and Marcus Fundamentals of Corporate Finance Sixth Edition Brooks FinGame Online 5.0 Bruner Case Studies in Finance: Managing for Corporate Value Creation Sixth Edition Chew The New Corporate Finance: Where Theory Meets Practice Third Edition Cornett, Adair, and Nofsinger Finance: Applications and Theory First Edition Cornett, Adair, and Nofsinger Finance: M Book First Edition DeMello Cases in Finance Second Edition Grinblatt (editor) Stephen A. Ross, Mentor: Influence through Generations Grinblatt and Titman Financial Markets and Corporate Strategy Second Edition Higgins Analysis for Financial Management Ninth Edition Kellison Theory of Interest Third Edition Kester, Ruback, and Tufano Case Problems in Finance Twelfth Edition Ross, Westerfield, and Jaffe Corporate Finance Ninth Edition...
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...23 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW 2.0. Introduction 2.1. Review of Theoretical Literature on Financial Viability of Pension Schemes 2.2. Review of Empirical Literature of Studies on the Solvency of Pension Schemes 2.3. Models for Evaluating the Financial Viability of Pension Schemes 2.4. A Summary of the Knowledge and Research Gaps 25 25 46 60 68 REFERENCES APPENDICES i Electronic copy available at: http://ssrn.com/abstract=1784297 GLOSSARY CAC CALPERS CAPSA CBS C-D CEO CGE CSR DB DC E.T.I EME ERISA FMA GASB GDP GSP INPFRS INSS IPD IRA IRBS KNAO KNBS LUPFUND NSE NSSF NYSCRF OECD OSFI PBGC PLC PPF PPR PROST PRPOPS PSPS PSSS RBA SAM SIPO SOX SSNIT SSS Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act CEO California Public Employees Retirement System The Canadian Association of Pension Supervisory Authorities Central Bureau of Statistics Cobb-Douglas economy Chief Executive Officer Computable General Equilibrium Corporate Social Responsibility Defined Benefit Defined Contribution Economically Targeted Investments Emerging Market Economies Employee Retirement Income Security Act Financial Management and Accountability Act Government Accounting Standards Board Gross domestic Product Gross State Product...
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...Crucial Cog in the Machine at I.B.M. The Global Business Environment Management in Focus: A Small Company, A Global Approach Regional Trading Blocks Comparative Management in Focus: Opening Economy Revitalizes India Information Technology The Globalization of Human Capital The Global Manager’s Role The Political and Economic Environment The Legal Environment The Technological Environment Chapter Discussion Questions Application Exercises Experiential Exercise End-of-Chapter Case Study: Under Pressure, Dubai Company Drops Port Deal Additional Cases: India: The Employment Black Hole? Mecca Cola Student Stimulation Questions and Exercises Opening Profile: India Becoming a Crucial Cog in Machine at I.B.M. The opening profile reports on the growing importance of India as a source of low-cost services in the IT market. The Indian labor market is attractive not only due to its low wages, but also because of the scientific and managerial talent found in the country. IBM’s Indian facility in Bangalore is now the company’s second largest worldwide operation. While IBM has laid off thousands of workers in the United States, its Indian operation has greatly increased employment. Some of IBM’s competitors have also begun to move their operations to India. The opening profile raises the question of the strategic importance of India to IBM and other companies. Country Information: India. Interesting information on Indian business and culture can be seen at:...
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...Doing Business in Vietnam: 2009 Country Commercial Guide for U.S. Companies INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT, U.S. & FOREIGN COMMERCIAL SERVICE AND U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, 2008. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES. • • • • • • • • • • Chapter 1: Doing Business In Vietnam Chapter 2: Political and Economic Environment Chapter 3: Selling U.S. Products and Services Chapter 4: Leading Sectors for U.S. Export and Investment Chapter 5: Trade Regulations and Standards Chapter 6: Investment Climate Chapter 7: Trade and Project Financing Chapter 8: Business Travel Chapter 9: Contacts, Market Research and Trade Events Chapter 10: Guide to Our Services 3/3/2009 Return to table of contents Chapter 1: Doing Business in Vietnam • • • • Market Overview Market Challenges Market Opportunities Market Entry Strategy Market Overview Return to top • Vietnam is a true emerging market, offering ground floor and growing opportunities for U.S. exporters and investors. Vietnam’s economic growth rate has been among the highest in the world in recent years, expanding annually at 7-8.5 percent, while industrial production has been growing at around 14-15 percent per year. Vietnam’s macroeconomic challenges and the global financial crisis dampened this growth in 2008 and will continue to do so in 2009. • In response to significant macroeconomic challenges, including high inflation and a large and growing current account deficit, the...
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...recording or otherwise without permission of the copyright owner. While every effort has been made to ensure that references to websites are correct at time of going to press, the world wide web is a constantly changing environment and the University of Sunderland cannot accept any responsibility for any changes to addresses. The University of Sunderland acknowledges product, service and company names referred to in this publication, many of which are trade names, service marks, trademarks or registered trademarks. All materials internally quality assessed by the University of Sunderland and reviewed by academics external to the University. Instructional design and publishing project management by Wordhouse Ltd, Reading, UK. Contents Introduction vii Unit 1 The contemporary world of business and management Introduction 1.1 1.2 The global business environment The importance of developments in the global environment Case Study 1.3 Organisational decision making and performance vii 1 3 10 14 17 19 19 20 Self-assessment questions Feedback on self-assessment questions Summary Unit 2 Globalisation Introduction 2.1 2.2 Definitions and indicators of globalisation Key drivers and facilitators of globalisation Case Study 2.3 2.4 Barriers and inhibitors of globalisation Comparing the costs and benefits of globalization Case Study 2.5 International trade and foreign direct investment Case Study 2.6 Applying Porter’s diamond model 21 21 22 25 27 29 31 32 36 36 40...
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