Reference no: EM132476909

BUS-2275 International Business Assignment - Lethbridge College, Canada

Final Project - Country Analysis

Select a country that you are interested in researching. Assume you work for a company that is interested in making an investment in the country you have selected. It may help to pick a product or company to use as an example (BUT it is NOT required that you do this) - a good example would be opening a Timmy's in another country. Assess the various challenges - economic, political, legal, ethical, and cultural-of doing business in your chosen country.

Note - I have to open a Tim Hortons Franchise in Norway. Research Norway's Market.

1) Culture

1. For the country you are studying, list several of their peoples' manners and customs. What values do people hold dear?

2. Describe their attitude toward time, work, and cultural change.

3. What religions are practiced there?

4. What language(s) are spoken?

5. What ethnicities reside in the nation, and do they form distinct subcultures?

2) Politics and Law

1. For the country you are studying, what type of political and legal systems do they have?

2. Do free elections take place?

3. Is the government heavily involved in the economy?

4. Is the legal system effective and impartial?

5. Do political and legal conditions suggest the country could be a potential market?

6. If so, for what kinds of goods or services might the market be appealing?

7. Is legislation pending that may be relevant to international companies?

International Ethics

1. What is the corruption perception index score?

2. What ethical dilemmas or challenges might you encounter in the country?

3) Demographics

1. What are the population demographics of the country?

2. What are income levels, distribution, etc for the population?

3. What is the educational system like?

4. Describe the nation's social structure.

4) Economics and Emerging Markets

1. What type of economic system does it have?

2. Has it always had this type of economic system?

3. Is it a developed, newly industrializing, emerging, or developing country?

4. How does it rank on the various measures of economic development?

5. Has it undergone any form of economic transition within the past 20 years?

6. If so, how has that transition affected the culture and the country's political, legal, and economic systems?

7. What trade patterns can you observe?

8. Is there evidence of products being imported? Exported?

9. List the methods each government uses to promote and restrict trade.

5) Foreign Direct Investment

1. Does it attract large amounts of FDI?

2. Is it a major source of FDI for other nations?

3. What is the nation's balance-of-payments position?

4. What is its current account balance? List some possible causes for its surplus or deficit.

5. How is this surplus or deficit affecting the nation's economic performance?

6. What is its capital account balance?

7. How does the government encourage or restrict trade with other nations?

6) Regional Economic Integration

1. Identify any regional integration efforts in which the nation may be participating.

2. What other nations are members?

3. What economic, political, and social objectives drive integration? So far, what have been the positive and negative results of integration?

4. How are international companies (domestic and non-domestic) coping?

5. Explain why companies' coping strategies are, or are not, succeeding.

7) International Financial Markets and Foreign Exchange

1. Does it have a city that is an important financial centre?

2. How has its stock market(s) performed over the past year?

3. What is the exchange rate between its currency and that of Canada?

4. What factors are responsible for the stability or volatility of that exchange rate?

5. Are there any restrictions on the exchange of the nation's currency?

6. How is the forecast for the country's currency likely to influence business activity in its major industries?

7. How have inflation and interest rates affected the nation's exchange rate with other currencies?

8. What impact has the country's exchange rate had on its imports and exports?

Submit -

1) Written report - Your paper should follow an APA format. Your report must have a cover page, a table of contents, and a list of sources cited/referenced in the paper. As well, include an overview/introduction at the start of the paper.

2) Powerpoint slide deck - Create 17 - 20 slides that would be used if you were doing a presentation of your information to your boss or the class. Be creative.