Many governments can be considered pragmatic nationalists when it comes to FDI. Accordingly, their policy is shaped by a consideration of the costs and benefits of FDI. Here we explore the benefits and costs of FDI, first from the perspective of a host country and then from a perspective of the home country. Host Country Effects: Benefits There are three main benefits of inward FDI for a host country: the resource-transfer effect, the employment effect, and the balance of payments effect. Resource transfer effects: Foreign direct investment can make a positive contribution to the host country’s economy by supplying capital, technology, and management resources that would otherwise not be available. If such factors are scarce in a country, the FDI may boost that country’s economic growth rate. Many of the MNEs by virtue of their size and financial strength, have access to financial resources not available in the host country Continue reading
International Business Basics
Marine Insurance Claims
Under an ordinary marine insurance cover, if the goods have been damaged or pilfered or lost, the buyer report the fact immediately to his local agents or the local branch of the marine insurance company or to the firm of insurance assessors. They examine the goods and certify the extent of the loss. The buyer then works out his claim on the basis of the proportion which the damaged goods bear to the whole consignment. If the goods have been invoiced on F.O.B (Freight On Board) value plus the cost of marine freight, insurance, and shipping charges, the buyer is entitled to claim a proportion of such charges. The buyer would send the original insurance certificate or policy to the broker or company which issued it, with a statement of the claim and the latter would send him the money. Alternatively, the buyer may send these paper to the exporter Continue reading
What are the Driving Forces behind Globalization?
Globalization can be characterized by four factors; the growing worldwide interconnections, rapid, discontinuous change, increased number and diversity of participants, as well as growing complexity. According to the Dictionary of Economics the term; globalization, is defined as the geographical shifts in domestic activity around the world and away from the nation states. It can also be referred to the interdependence of economies, through the increase in cross-border movement of goods, service, technology and capital. Examples of such integrations can be seen in the growing presence of many multinational companies as they expand into new regions (i.e. McDonalds) and the outsourcing of manufacturing and services. Drivers of Globalization The four main areas of drivers for globalization are market, government; cost and competition. These external drivers affect the main conditions for the potential of globalization across industries, which are mainly uncontrollable by individual firms. Market drivers include areas such as common customer needs Continue reading
Why Does a Company Go Global?
There are a number of objectives of international business but the primary and the basic of them being; 1. Learning and Product Development: Today every organization is a learning organization. Also it has to continuously be in touch with the competition in the market. Hence it has to do the up gradation of the existing products eventually whenever required. When one enters international markets, one comes across other competitors from other countries. One is therefore exposed to competition from other countries. Domestic goods have to match international standards to remain in competition, not only with respect to product, cost and quality but services as well. Therefore, one gets an opportunity to learn and develop or improvise new products. 2. Brand building for other products In international markets, if the company is competent enough to beat the rivals in the field, it not only creates a goodwill and image of the Continue reading
Country Risk in International Investments
Country risk is defined as the exposure to a loss in cross-border lending caused by events in a particular country. These events must be, at least to some extent, under the control of the government of that country; they are definitely not under the control of an enterprise or individual. All cross-border lending in a country – whether to the government, a bank, a private enterprise or an individual – is exposed to country risk. Country risk is thus a broader concept than sovereign risk, which is the risk of lending to the government of a sovereign nation. Further, only events that are, at least to some extent, under the control of the government, can lead to the materialization of country risk. A default caused by bankruptcy is country risk if the bankruptcy is the result of the mismanagement of the economy by the government. It is commercial risk if Continue reading
Global Marketing Strategies
Marketing strategy is one of the most interesting, challenging and important elements in international business. Compared with art and science, marketing strategy is more about people finding ways to deliver exceptional value by fulfilling the needs and wants of customers, shareholders, business partners and society. It is inherently driven by people and is always changeable which explains why making marketing strategy is difficult and significant. Moreover, a perfect marketing strategy that is executed without any flaws can still fail. Additionally, sometimes businesses get success despite having a general strategy or execution because marketing is complicated and flexible and the nature or characteristics of marketing can make planning strategy very difficult and frustrating. Marketing strategy has been a great challenge for each enterprise. To some degree, the difficulty of making marketing strategy highlights the extraordinary success of those famous business, for instance, Coca-cola, Starbucks, Best buy, Apple, etc. A global marketing Continue reading