Managing International Trade and Investment

Introduced by Debora Spar in 1995, Managing International Trade and Investment is an elective course that prepares students to deal with the distinct set of management challenges that face cross-border businesses. Building on experience that suggests that what works in one country does not necessarily work in another, the course develops a framework for evaluating competitive advantage, political environments and legal structures, currency fluctuations and trading regimes, and cultural and business norms on a market-by-market basis. Consideration of the impact of different environments on corporate strategy begins at the firm level and progresses through the industry, state, and international levels (e.g., the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade and the North American Free Trade Agreement). Specific attention is accorded cross-border trade and investment in information-based industries. The course incorporates a host of teaching cases, many developed around trade issues in emerging markets such as those of China, Indonesia, and Mexico.