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Writer's pictureAn Minh Nguyen

Business and the international economy

Globalisation : describe increases in worldwide trade and movement of people and capital between countries

There are several reasons for the increase in global trade and movement of products, people and capital ( globalisation ) :

  • Increasing numbers of free trade agreements an economic unions between countries have reduced protection for industries

--> consumer can purchase goods and services from other countries with few or no import controls ( tariff / quota )

Free trade agreements : exists when countries agree to trade imports/exports with no barriers such as tariffs and quotas

  • Imported and cheaper travels links and communications between all parts of the world have made it easier to transport products globally

  • Internet allows easy price comparisons between goods from many countries

  • Online or e-commerce is allowing orders to be placed from anywhere in the world

  • Many 'emerging market countries' are industrialising very rapidly. China and countries in South-east Asia used to import many of the goods they needed. Now their own manufacturing industries are so strong they can export in large quantities at very competitive pricing

Opportunities of globalisation for business:

  • Start selling exports to other countries to opening up foreign market

in country with fast selling market -> increase potential sales

be able to sell items online -> goods sent from abroad -> increase potential sale


However : it can be expensive to sell abroad ( culture classing , transportation ) -> lower potential sale even if the product is popular at home


  • become a multinational company by open factories / operation in other countries

could be cheaper to make goods in other country than at home -> reduce cost of good sold per unit


However : quality might not be good / culture class --> ethical issue


  • Import raw materials from other countries but the final product is still home product

raw materials are cheaper to buy oversea -> reduce cost of good sold


However : the raw materials might not be reliable --> lower quality --> bad reputation

the shipping cost might be too high --> might be higher than buying the raw material in the country --> increase cost of good sale --> increase selling price


  • Import product from other country and sell it home to make profit

With no trade restriction it could be more profitable to import goods and sell them domestically


However : if product need maintenance, such as repair producer might not be available



Threats of globalisation for business :

  • Increasing imports into home markets from foreign competitors

-->If these competitors offer cheaper products ( or of higher quality ) sales of local business might fall


But : the increased competition could force the local businesses to become more efficient


  • Increasing investment from multinationals to set up operations in home country

--> this will increase further competition and

-->multinational may have economies of scale-->will be able to afford the best employee-->

harder for local business to find employee


But : some local firm could become supplier to these multinationals--> their sale could increase


  • employees may leave the businesses that cannot pay the same or more than international competitors

in some profession, employees will now have more choice about where they work and business will have to make efforts to keep their best employees


But : this might encourage local businesses orange of motivation methods to keep their workers


Globalisation has led to more choice and lower prices for consumers

--> it has force businesses to look for ways of increasing efficiency --> inefficient producer have gone out of business

--> many firms have merge with foreign businesses to make it easier to sell in foreign market --> reasons for growth of multination organisations


Why governments might introduce import tariffs and import quotas?

Import tariffs : is tax placed on imported goods when they arrive into the country

usually leads to the price increase making them less competitive

--> local product become cheaper

Import quota : is a restriction on the quantity of a quantity of a product that can be imported

this reduces the amount of goods that can be imported --> less available --> increase in price of goods --> encourage consumer to buy local product


Multinational business : are those with factories, production or service, operations in more than one country ( transnational businesses )


Benefits of being a multinational

  • produce goods in countries with low cost --> lower cost good sold

  • extract raw material from other country

  • reduce transport cost --> as goods produce near market

  • avoid barrier

  • remain competitive with rival businesses

  • gain gov grants --> if locate in particular countries

Impacts on its stakeholders of a business becoming a multinational

  • shareholders : receive increase dividends from higher profit

  • employees : increase opportunities to gain promotion as the business get larger and opportunities to live and work aboard

  • Suppliers : may have increase or decrease sales to the multinational depends on where its locate

  • Government : may have receive higher tax or lose tax depends on where the company move

Potential benefits to a country's economy where a multinational operate

  • jobs are created --> low unemployment

  • increase investment --> increase output ( higher GDP ) --> new technology can benefit the country by bringing in new idea

  • increase export --> import reduce as goods are made in the country, extra output will be sold aboard

  • Increase funds for gov --> tax are paid by multinationals

  • increase consumer choices --> more competitions

Potential drawbacks to a country's economy where a multinational operates

  • The jobs created are often unskilled jobs

  • Reduced sales for local businesses --> multinational are more efficient ( lower cost than other business )

  • profits are often send back home and not keep in the country where it operate

  • use up scare and natural resources in host country

  • have lots of influence on the gov and the country's economy


Exchange rate : is the price of one currency in terms of another currency

Depreciation of the exchange rate : is when the exchange is work less against other currencies

  • make export cheaper

  • import more expensive

Appreciation of the exchange rate : is when the exchange rate is worth more against other currencies

  • raise the price of export

  • import price fall and demand might rise


Change in exchange rate affect businesses in several different ways:


Exporting business

When their country's currency appreciated, their product become more expensive --> less competitive in foreign market --> my lose saes, revenue and profits

Currency appreciation : occurs when the vale of a currency rise, it buys more of another currency than before

When their country's currency depreciated, their product become cheaper --> increase demand --> higher sale --> more profit

Currency depreciation : occurs when the value of a currency falls, it buy less of another country


Importing business

When their country's currency appreciated, the other country's product become cheaper --> lower cost of good sold

When their country's currency depreciated, the other country's product become more expensive --> increase cost of good sold




































































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