International Business, Multi-Nationals, and the Nationality of the Company

The book explores the challenges faced by multinational companies without a single nationality in a globalized economy, citing examples such as Brexit, America First campaigns, and the Russia-Ukraine war. It argues that nationality is not a ghost from the past and requires substantial consideration in international business.

Format: Hardback
Length: 202 pages
Publication date: 11 December 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The lack of a single 'nationality' for multinational companies and their exposure to diverse country-specific, legally, and culturally constructed nationalities both at home and abroad present significant challenges. The recent events such as Brexit, the America First campaigns, Russia's war against Ukraine, and the increasingly tense relationship between China and the US have heightened concerns regarding foreign direct investments. These developments have prompted multinational companies to consider withdrawing from certain countries and reevaluating their global value chains. The long-held belief that 'nationality does not matter for multinational companies in the globalized economy has diminished, as governments and customers react to the 'nationality' of a firm or a product as they did in the 20th century.

The chapters in this book delve into various international business domains, including political risk, liability of foreignness, cultural distance, headquarters change, and tax planning. They employ diverse methodological approaches to analyze European and US-based multinational enterprises (MNEs) in Europe, Africa, and South-East Asia from 1900 to 1980. The book makes a compelling argument that 'nationality is not a relic of the past in international business but rather a topic that demands thorough consideration.

These chapters were originally published in the journal Business History, contributing to the ongoing discourse on the complexities of multinational companies and their operations in the global context.

Weight: 548g
Dimension: 246 x 174 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032604503