This document outlines the topics that will be covered across 8 sessions on global business strategy. Session 2 will discuss the China effect, Eurozone crisis, fiscal crises in major economies, BRICS bloc, trade issues, globalization and sustainability. Sessions 3-8 will analyze political, economic, legal and social factors in countries and their implications for business. Session topics include institutions, policies, macroeconomics, industries, innovation, labor, environment and case studies. In Session 7, student groups will conduct PESTLE and SWOT analyses for a company expanding internationally and present their recommendations.

1. Session 2

2. 
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The “China effect” revisited
The Eurozone crisis
Fiscal crisis in America and Japan
The BRICS
Free trade vs. Protectionism
Globalization and CSR
Globalization and climate change
Sustainability and the “triple bottom line”

3. Sessions 3-8

4. Session 3

5. 
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Political institutions
International relations
The role of government in the economy
Market liberalization vs. protectionism
Regulation vs. deregulation
Key policies
Outlook

6. 
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The basic rules of the game
Type of political regime (democratic,
authoritarian)
Political stability (critical consideration)
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Example: China
Important questions in the current context
-China: Middle class growth and political
implications
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Outlook and implications for business

7. 
Membership in International Official Multilateral
Organizations (UN, WTO, IMF/World Bank, Regional
Trade Blocks/FTAs, etc.)
Some important questions in the current context
-Will a U.S.-E.U. free trade deal materialize?
-Will the EU-China trade relationship deteriorate?
-Will the Japan-China relationship deteriorate?
-Will China develop stronger energy ties with
Russia?
-How will the India-China relationship unfold?
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Outlook and implications for business

8. 
-Market liberalization vs. protectionism
-Will America turn protectionist?
-Will Europe turn protectionist?
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-Regulation vs. deregulation
-Flexible labour markets in Europe?
-Does privatization of public utilities work?
-More banking regulation?
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Example: The EU and the Eurozone
Outlook and implications for business

9. Session 3 continued

10. 
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Judicial system
Relations between various levels of
government
Business regulations & taxes
Labour law
Effectiveness of the legal system
Outlook

11. 
Judicial system
-Structure, degree of independence
(examples)
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Relations between various levels of government
-The question of jurisdiction (examples)
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Business regulations & taxes
-Ease of doing business (examples)
-Corporate taxes (examples)
-Direct vs. indirect taxes (examples)

12. 
Labour law
-Labour protection: Unions & collective
bargaining, labour conditions (examples)
-Minimum wages (examples)
-Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
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Effectiveness of the legal system: enforcement
-Examples (Canada and Greece)
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Outlook and implications for business
-Cases: Greece (Eldorado Gold), Bangladesh
(WalMart, etc.), China (Apple; Foxconn)

13. Session 4

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Economic performance and competitiveness
GDP composition by sector (agriculture, industry, services)
Fiscal and monetary situation
Trade and the current account
External debt
FDI & portfolio investments
Foreign exchange reserves
Credit rating
Employment
Outlook
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Key industry sectors
Industry structure and competition
Financial sector
Outlook

15. 
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Economic performance and competitiveness
GDP composition by sector (agriculture, industry, services)
Fiscal and monetary situation
Trade and the current account
External debt
FDI & portfolio investments
Foreign exchange reserves
Credit rating
Employment
Outlook and Implications for business
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Example: Japan
(use the basic macroeconomic identity to illustrate)

16. 
Key industry sectors
Industry structure and competition
Financial sector
Outlook and implications for business
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Example: Singapore (e.g., logistics)
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17. Session 5

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Demography
Income distribution & standard of living
Literacy & education
Health care
Culture, religion & work ethic
Formal & informal labour markets
Social welfare
Outlook and implications for business
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Case: Canada (e.g., auto industry: demand and
supply factors)
Corporate social responsibility (CSR)
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19. Session 6

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Intellectual property
Research & Development
Key high tech sectors
Outlook and implications for business

21. 
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Intellectual property
-Rationale for protection and patents
Research & Development
-Overhead costs, scale of production,
industry concentration, government policy
Key high tech sectors
Example: Pharma industry
Outlook and implications for business
Case: Novartis India

22. Session 6 continued

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Environmental regulations & actions taken
Environmental impact
Outlook

24. 
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Environmental regulations & actions taken
-Rationale of regulation (the theory)
-Policy debates (examples)
-Policy alternatives (examples)
Environmental impact
-Case: Canada’s oil sands
-Case: Europe’s cap-and-trade
Outlook and implications for business
-Threats (Case: Haze over Singapore)
-Opportunities (Case: investing in green
technologies and the “triple bottom line”

25. Session 7

26. The teams of ‘student consultants’ will now proceed to assess (in
principle) a company’s plan to do business in the country, which
the team has already analysed in phase 1.
 From the perspective of the proposed business investment, what
are the opportunities and threats in the country? What are the
company’s internal strengths and weaknesses?
 The team’s performance in this consulting project will be assessed
on their capacity to make effective use of PESTLE and SWOT
analysis, complete with the necessary research, in order to present
the company shareholders with a piece of good business advise.
 Each team should choose a ‘case’, which is based on an actual
situation and highlights some of the main issues facing companies
as they expand internationally: Should they invest? What should
they invest in? How? When?
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27. 
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Each group will give a 5min. PowerPoint
presentation on the topic described above.
See detailed instructions in section 2.2 (item
4) above.
This assignment is due in session 8.
Deliverables (slides + 500 word Executive
Summary) should be uploaded to the Bb as
ONE PDF document before the start of
session 8. The file name must include the
group number.

28. Session 8