This page is a guide through a series of notes that establish frameworks for thinking about cultural, economic, political, and legal differences across countries.  (As geographers, we realize that there's substantial variation within countries, as well).  These notes also outline some ways to think about the interaction between MNCs and home and host countries.  Those of you interested in international business operations will find it worthwhile to study all the notes linked here.  For others, I'll place a row of asterisks (****) to the left of items I feel are especially important. 
 

DEFINITIONS

IPR -- intellectual property rights (see on-line notes)
****national treatment (see on-line notes)

Managing across Cultural Differences (on-line notes)

Managing in Different Political and Economic Environments (on-line notes)

1. ****Study the matrix of political and economic systems.

****Impacts of IB (on-line notes)

1. What are the alternative motivations for a company to engage in FDI?
2. Understand the balance-of-payments implications of inward FDI.
3. What are the potential losses to the origin (home) and destination (host) country of FDI?

• ****What do national (and provincial) governments want from inward FDI?  What do MNCs want from FDI?
• ****What circumstances gave the host-country government a strong negotiating position?
• ****What circumstances give the MNC a strong negotiating position?
• What kinds of things need to be negotiated between MNC and host-country government?