The International Business Environment : A Handbook for Managers and Executives

This book identifies and discusses the governmental, intergovernmental, and systemic factors that regulate, facilitate, and/or complicate the operations of companies engaged in the conduct of international business (IB) – which are referred to collectively as the IB environment. Written as a handbook and reference book for managers and executives, the book provides concise and incisive information on each of the elements of the IB environment and explains related terms, concepts, principles, and practices.

Managers and executives who work in international trade and foreign direct investment are acutely aware of the importance of the governmental, intergovernmental, and systemic factors that regulate, facilitate, and/or complicate the conduct of international business (IB). But most managers and executives have limited or no expertise in these factors, which are referred to collectively as the IB environment.

Also, because the IB environment is a socio-political-economic construct that is governed by non-business disciplines (which include international relations, international law, sociology, and cultural anthropology), it can be difficult for managers and executives to access usable information on the elements of the IB environment.

The International Business Environment: A Handbook for Managers and Executives addresses both of these conditions by providing managers and executives with concise and incisive information on each of the elements of the IB environment. The elements covered in the book include tariff and non-tariff barriers, anti-dumping duties, subsidies and countervailing duties, entry and post-entry barriers to foreign direct investment, political risk, the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade and other global instruments, the World Trade Organization and other global mechanisms, regional trade blocs (which include free trade areas and customs unions), bilateral trade and investment agreements, the conflict of laws, dispute settlement mechanisms, and systemic and cultural differences. The book also explains related terms, concepts, principles, and practices.

The book relies primarily on original source materials; makes extensive use of examples; and can be used as a text in corporate seminars, executive development programs, and MBA programs.