Elements of Multinational Strategy

This textbook on international business integrates the academic study of international trade and foreign direct investment with the actual strategic and operational decisions of exporters and multinational enterprises. The book aims to merge managerial decision making in the internationally oriented firm with the conceptual tools provided by international economics. The book proceeds as follows. Like most firms, we begin with exporting and importing, and tackle issues raised by overseas investment later. We first analyze the gains from trade and then enumerate the many costs of cross-border goods and service transactions. Next we apply the four elements of multinational strategy - factor advantages, trade costs, scale economies, and market sizes - to the decision of which multinational form best suits each firm. We then take up issues of central importance to firms that invest overseas: exchange rate risk, political risk, taxation, and expatriate assignments.