In this chapter, we explore business in this exciting global marketplace. First, we look at the nature of international business, including barriers and promoters of trade across international boundaries. Next, we consider the levels of organizational involvement in international business. Finally, we briefl y discuss strategies for trading across national borders.
Chapter Four Business in a Borderless World © 2003 McGrawHill Ryerson Limited International Business Refers to the buying, selling, and trading of goods and services across national boundaries 4-1 © 2003 McGrawHill Ryerson Limited Absolute Advantage Absolute advantage exists when a country is the only source of an item, the only producer of an item, or the most efficient producer of an item Example: DeBeers Consolidated Mines, Ltd. (virtually controls the world’s diamond trade) 4-2 © 2003 McGrawHill Ryerson Limited Comparative Advantage Comparative advantage occurs when a country specializes in products that it can supply more efficiently or at a lower cost than it can produce other items Example: the U.S. agricultural commodities, such as corn and wheat, Canadian automotive products 4-3 © 2003 McGrawHill Ryerson Limited Where Canadian Exports Went in 2000 4-4 United States 87.1% Japan 2.2% United Kingdom 1.4% China 0.9% Germany 0.8% © 2003 McGrawHill Ryerson Limited Source: Statistics Canada and US Census Bureau, http://strategis.ic.gc.ca, June 4, 2001 Top 5 Countries Canada Traded with in 2000 Exports 45 Imports Trade Balance United States $359B $229B $130B Surplus Japan $9.1B $16.6B $7.5B Deficit United Kingdom $5.7B $13.0B $7.3B Deficit China $3.6B $11.3B $7.7B Deficit Mexico $2.0B $12.1B $10.1B Deficit © 2003 McGrawHill Ryerson Limited Source: Statistics Canada and US Census Bureau, http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/sc_mrkti/tdst/tdo/tdo.php International Trade Barriers • • • • 4-6 Economic Legal/political Social/cultural Technological © 2003 McGrawHill Ryerson Limited A Comparative Economic Analysis of Canada, Switzerland, and the United States Canada Switzerland United States 3,560,219 15,355 3,539,227 Population (millions) 29.12 7.25 267.96 Population density (persons per sq. mi.) 8 472 76 $623 $176 $6,955 $21,031 $24,809 $26,438 4-7 Land area (sq. mi.) GDP, 1995 ($ billions US) GDP per capita (US $) © 2003 McGrawHill Ryerson Limited Country Corruption Perception Index 4-8 Top 10 Least Corrupt Countries Top 10 Most Corrupt Countries 3. 8 10 3. 4 8 10 Denmark Finland Sweden New Zealand Iceland Canada Singapore Netherlands (tie) Norway (tie) Switzerland © 2003 McGrawHill Ryerson Limited Cameroon Paraguay Honduras Tanzania (tie) Nigeria (tie) Indonesia Colombia Venezuela (tie) Ecuador (tie) Russia Source: Transparency International, “The Transparency International 1998 Corruption Perceptions Index”. www.transparency.de CrossCultural Similarities in Eating Trends Country Japan 4-9 Canada Switzerland Homecooked fish and rice, as well as gourmet foods Generally lowfat (contributing to a longer life span) Small fish and vegetable dishes served with rice and miso soup Frozen, takeout, and precooked foods France Fatfilled dishes prepared with fresh ingredients from the market Homemade pastries and deserts Warm chicken gizzards, sliced baguettes (bread), pâté, green salad Takeout pizzas, hamburgers, TexMex and convenience foods Leaner cuts of meat and fewer traditional dishes rich in butter and cream Canada Red meat, poultry, whole milk, potatoes, eggs Traditional meat and potatoes Fresh vegetables, cereals, frozen foods, ethnic foods, snack foods United States Steak, pork chops, boiled potatoes, french fries, bacon, whole milk, eggs Traditional meat and potatoes Pizza, tacos and burritos, bagels, pasta, frozen entrees, rice, instant potatoes, diet soft drinks, bottled water, frozen yogurt, microwave popcorn Fastfood outlets such as McDonald's and KFC more popular than in the U.S Microwavable entrees growing in popularity Sources: Tullio Caputo and Neil, “What Canadians are Eating,” Canadian Social Trends, Statistics Canada, Winter 1990; Kathleen Deveney, “America’s Heartland Acquires Global Taste, Wall Street Journal, Oct. 11, 1995, pp. B1, B6; “Hot Stuff!” Canadian Grocer, June 1996, pp. 913; “Out of the Deep Freeze,” Canadian Grocer, Oct. 1996, pp. 2223; Norihiko Shirouzu, “HomeCooked Fish, Rice Loose Importance in Japan,” Wall Street Journal, Oct. 11, 1995, p. B1; “Snack Solutions for Guiltless Grazing,” Canadian Grocer, Sept, 1996, pp. 919; and Gabriella Stern, “French Add Convenience to Customary Cuisine,” Wall Street Journal, Oct. 11, 1995, pp. B1, B6 © 2003 McGrawHill Ryerson Limited GATT and NAFTA 4-10 General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT): Trade agreement that provides a forum for tariff negotiations and a place where international trade problems can be discussed/solved. The World Trade Organization (WTO) is responsible for administering GATT North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA): Eliminates most tariffs and trade restrictions on agricultural and manufactured products between Canada, Mexico, and U.S. (19942009) © 2003 McGrawHill Ryerson Limited 4-11 Hot Spots in Europe © 2003 McGrawHill Ryerson Limited Source: “The Atlantic Century?” Business Week, February 8, 1998 Capital Into and Out of Europe 180 4-12 160 Billions of Dollars (U.S.) 140 U.S. Companies Acquiring in Europe 120 100 80 European Companies Acquiring in U.S 60 40 20 © 2003 McGrawHill Ryerson Limited 1995 1996 1997 1998 Source: “Europe Rising,” Business Week, February 8, 1999, p. 16 Increasing Global Involvement 4-13 Multinational Corporation Direct Investment Joint Ventures Contract Manufacturing Licensing Trading Companies Exporting © 2003 McGrawHill Ryerson Limited The Fifteen Largest Global Public Corporations 4-14 Company Country Business Citigroup United States Diversified Financials 111,826 General Electric United States Electrical Equipment 129,853 Exxon/Mobil United States International oil 206,083 BP United Kingdom International oil 148,062 HSBC Group United Kingdom Banking 49,861 ING Group Netherlands Diversified Financials 71,018 JP Morgan Chase United States Multinational Bank 60,065 Royal Dutch/Shell Netherlands Energy Bank of America United States Multinational Bank 57,772 AT&T United States Telecomcarriers 65,431 American Int’l Group United States Insurance 45,972 Verizon Commun. United States Telecomcarriers 64,707 IBM United States Computer Sales 88,396 WalMart Stores United States Multiline Retail 191,329 General Motors United States Automobiles 184,632 Toyota Japan Automobiles 121,464 © 2003 McGrawHill Ryerson Limited Revenue ($ millions US) 149,146 Source: “The World Super Fifty,” Forbes, www.forbes.com/forbes/2001/0723/134tab1_print.html Solve the Dilemma 4-15 a What are the key issues that need to be considered in determining global expansion? b What are some of the unique problems that a small business might face in global expansion that larger firms would not? c Should Audiotech consider a joint venture? Should it hire a sales force of people native to the countries it enters? © 2003 McGrawHill Ryerson Limited Explore Your Career Options 4-16 What are some of the skills required to be a successful businessperson in the borderless world of the 21st century? © 2003 McGrawHill Ryerson Limited Additional Discussion Questions and Exercises 4-17a Look at the “Foreign Exchange” section of the business section of a newspaper. What nation’s currency or exchange rate is listed? If you were traveling to Germany, how many euros would equal one dollar? How many Swiss francs would you need to equal one dollar? Assume your firm wishes to do business by selling manufactured products in other countries but does not wish to do actual manufacturing in Canada or the other country. What options are available? © 2003 McGrawHill Ryerson Limited Additional Discussion Questions and Exercises 4-17b Consider the world situation in general. What are the political hot spots or areas of unrest in which doing business would be risky? What would be the possible advantage for a company setting up a business venture in these areas of unrest at the first sign of political stability? What are some of the reasons for the Canadian trade surplus? © 2003 McGrawHill Ryerson Limited Chapter 4 Quiz 4-18a A positive balance of trade occurs when a a country imports more than it exports b a company has a monopoly on the production of a specific resource c a country exports more than it imports d a country’s currency can be exchanged for another’s currency or gold A partnership between a foreign company and a local partner is called a a trading company b an export agency company c a direct investment d a joint venture © 2003 McGrawHill Ryerson Limited Chapter 4 Quiz 4-18b When the United States established a policy forbidding trade with Cuba, this was an example of what type of trade restriction? a a quota b an embargo c a countertrade agreement d an import tariff A comparative advantage exists when a a firm supplies a product at lower costs b a firm is the only supplier of a product c a country supplies a product at lower costs d a country is the most efficient supplier of an item © 2003 McGrawHill Ryerson Limited ... © 2003 McGrawHill Ryerson Limited GATT and NAFTA 4-1 0 General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT): Trade agreement that provides a forum for tariff negotiations and a place where international trade problems can be discussed/solved. The World Trade Organization ... popcorn Fastfood outlets such as McDonald's and KFC more popular than in the U.S Microwavable entrees growing in popularity Sources: Tullio Caputo and Neil, “What Canadians are Eating,” Canadian Social Trends, Statistics Canada, Winter 1990; Kathleen... Denmark Finland Sweden New Zealand Iceland Canada Singapore Netherlands (tie) Norway (tie) Switzerland © 2003 McGrawHill Ryerson Limited Cameroon Paraguay Honduras Tanzania (tie) Nigeria (tie)