The development of an Multilateral Framework on Investment (MFI), if such a framework were to be negotiated, would represent a change in the policy-framework cluster of determinants. Although such a framework might also affect some elements of business facilitation (such as investment incentives), it would not involve significant and direct changes in the principal economic determinants. Indeed, by making Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policies potentially more similar, an MFI would underline the importance of economic (and business facilitation) factors in determining FDI flows. The precise effect of an MFI on the policy-framework cluster of determinants would depend on its content, including definitions, scope and safeguards. Because an MFI is only a hypothesis, three scenarios, based on differing assumptions, are discussed below for purely analytical purposes. The specific implications of each scenario would vary from country to country in accordance with specific economic and developmental conditions and specific national stances vis-a-vis Continue reading
International Business
International Business Management deals with the maintenance and development of a multinational operation across national borders, whose manager has the knowledge and the skills to manage and handle cross-cultural processes, stakeholders and business environments in a right way.
Concept of Investment Banking
Investment banks are essentially financial intermediaries, who primarily help businesses and governments with raising capital, corporate mergers and acquisitions, and securities trade. In USA such banks are the most important participants in the direct market by bringing financial claims for sale. They help interested parties in raising capital, whether debt or equity in the primary market to finance capital expenditure. Once the securities are sold, investment bankers make secondary markets for the securities as brokers and dealers. In 1990, there were 2500 investment banking firms in USA doing underwriting business. About 100 firms are so large that they dominate the industry. In recent years some investment banking firms have diversified or merged with other financial institutions to become full service financial firms. Difference between Investment Banks and Commercial Banks Investment banks have often been thought to be as Commercial banks, and rightly so. However, both the terms have different connotations Continue reading
Evaluation of Subsidiary Performance in Multinational Operations
A parent company may employ several criteria to evaluate the performance of its foreign subsidiaries. Sales growth, market share, stability in output, asset growth and returns on investment are some of these criteria. Out of these, Return On Investment (ROI) is the most widely-used criteria-because the interest of the parent company ultimately lies in the Return On its Investment. The ROI as calculated on the basis of reported profit repatriation may however not show the true return from the subsidiary. This is because it may be grossly-distorted, due to the following reasons. (i) The subsidiary’s profits are taxed in the host country and repatriation of profit may be subject to further tax. Therefore, the parent company tries to transfer the money from the subsidiary in various other ways such as high royalty, high interest on loan, high expert fees, etc. As a result the, profit repatriation becomes a grossly understated Continue reading
Development Stages of a Transnational Corporation
There are five stages in the evolution of the transnational corporation. These stages describe significant differences in the strategy, worldview, orientation, and practice of companies operating in more than one country. One of the key differences in companies at these different stages is in orientation. Stage One–Domestic The stage-one company is domestic in its focus, vision, and operations. Its orientation is ethnocentric. This company focuses upon domestic markets, domestic suppliers, and domestic competitors. The environmental scanning of the stage-one company is limited to the domestic, familiar, home-country environment. The unconscious motto of a stage-one company is: “If it’s not happening in the home country, it’s not happening.” The world’s graveyard of defunct companies is littered with stage-one companies that were sunk by the Titanic syndrome: the belief, often unconscious but frequently a conscious conviction, that they were unsinkable and invincible on their own home turf. The pure stage-one company is Continue reading
Theoretical Perspectives on Firm Internationalization
After the World War II, there has been rapid growth in international trade in both goods and services, resulting in various transactions across national borders for the purpose of satisfying the needs of individuals and organisations. The result of this global competition has forced organisations to expand their business by finding out new markets at home and foreign countries making them ‘Transnational firms’. Transnational Corporations (TNC) is defined as a firm that has power to co-ordinate and control operations in more than one country, even if it does not own them. The significance of TNC lies mainly in its ability to co-ordinate and control different transactions within transnational production networks, ability to take advantage of distribution factors of production and ability to be flexible in locations. The growing TNCs led to various patterns and trends in international business like rapid growth in world trade and investment, cross border mergers and Continue reading
Managing Political Risk in International Business
Political environment could involve a risk to businesses, domestic and foreign. Such risk is called political risk. Political risk is that perception by the businesses that their interests will get deteriorated when certain political upheaval happens. Political risk can occur in both democracies as well as in the totalitarian set ups as well. Political Risks are of different types. There are micro and macro political risks. Micro political risk is the one that affects a particular firm or class of firms. Usually firms owned by one class of businessmen, say, the foreigners from certain country, a particular business family or region/state. Micro political risk risk can be hedged. Macro political risk affects all. There is no sparing of any business, any nationality, any trade or industry. Formulating and Implementing Strategies to deal with Political Risk The following course of action, suggested by John D Daniels and Lee H Radebaugh will Continue reading