Country Study - Report: These country studies are to give transparency to actually doing business in different countries around the world.
This comparative study focuses on selected countries in the developing world. Using a hypothetical company in a pre-selected industry, your study should be put together like a high-level report to executive management, and must cover these issues:
1. Two to three cultural differences from the USA that could be important when conducting business in the country
2. Political system in country, Human Development Index, Political Freedom Index, Economic Freedom Index, Purchasing Power Parity (to US$), primary religion(s) - with analysis of possible effects of each of these seven national features on a US domiciled firm doing business in the country.
3. Discuss how international trade theory fits the country and industry:
o 1. Mercantilism/Absolute Advantage/Comparative Advantage
o 2. Heckscher-Ohlin/Factor Endowments
o 3. Product Life Cycle (Where is your firm's product in the product life cycle and is it a good fit in the target country?)
4. Evaluate how international trade theory is used to explain the target country's determinants of national competitive advantage (all four parts of National Competitive Advantage/Porter's Diamond):
o a) Factor endowment
o b) Demand Conditions
o c) Firm Strategy/Structure/Rivalry
o d) Related/Supporting Industies
5. Current trade with USA/recent FDI statistics.
6. Currency/FX movement vs US$ last 5 years, predictions for next 6 to 12 months (use securities firm, governmental, etc., reports/forecasts.
7. Strategy of your US firm (generic: cost leadership, differentiation, focus, etc.), international strategy of your US firm (global standardization, etc.), proposed entry strategy (joint venture, etc.) to your targeted country.
8. Potential marketing issues (language, availability of good data, cultural issues, etc.).
Due on the last night of class will be a six-page country report (plus title and reference pages) is required. Students are challenged to search for reliable sources of information. However, an online collection of data from the World Bank, Doing Business, Then go to "Economy Snapshots" to drill down for information.