International Business

Although international business has been important for decades, its impact on our lives has been more visible in the recent years. I am presently typing this syllabus in a computer manufactured by an American corporation (H-P), many of whose components are produced in Taiwan or mainland China. The computer was assembled in the Czech Republic and purchased to the Spanish HP subsidiary in an Internet Auction conducted by an American firm (EBay). A few minutes ago, a courier delivered me the latest International Business book I ordered a week ago from a UK Internet-bookstore.

Why this complex network of business corporations that spread across the countries? Why now and not before? Why we should study international business differently as regular business? This course will provide an overview of the challenges facing businesses as they compete on the global playing field.

We shall start the course focusing on the economic foundations of international business. Next we will consider the main forces that shape business across countries: political, economic, cultural and legal forces. The last part of the course will analyze the internal aspects of a firm oriented towards international business.