International Business Commons^™

The Use (And Misuse) Of Tariffs In North America: A New Trade War?, Maroula Khraiche, Armando R. Lopez-Velasco, Jean-Baptiste Tondji

School of Economics and Finance Faculty Publications

Trade wars may have started. At the time this report was published, the Trump administration had threatened, then paused, a 25 percent tariff on Canadian and Mexican goods. Before the pause, Mexico and Canada were preparing retaliatory tariffs. After the pause, Trump ordered a 25 percent import tax on all steel and aluminum entering the United States to start in March 2025 and announced a plan for tariffs on US trading partners. In this brief, we document the different perspectives and economic consequences of North American trade wars and beyond.

The Influence Of Consumer Dispositions In Cross-Cultural Consumer Behavior: The Mediating Roles Of Cosmopolitanism, Affinity, Ethnocentrism, And Animosity, Md Abrar Fahad Khan, Attila Yaprak, Andrew Byungwook Chung

AMTP Proceedings 2025

This paper investigates how socio-demographic factors, cultural variables, and attitudes interact with positive and negative consumer dispositions—cosmopolitanism, affinity, ethnocentrism, and animosity—to influence pre-purchase, purchase, and post-purchase behaviors. Anchored in five key theories—attitude theory, laddering theory, social identity theory, self-identity theory, and identity theory—the study highlights the mediating roles of these dispositions in cross-cultural consumer behavior. Positive dispositions such as cosmopolitanism and affinity foster openness to foreign brands, while negative dispositions like ethnocentrism and animosity deter purchases of foreign products. This integrated framework offers a comprehensive understanding of consumer behavior by bridging socio-demographics, cultural influences, and psychological dispositions. The study contributes …

Doing Business With China And Decoupling: Recommendations For Global Strategy, Nader H. Shooshtari, Timothy A. Manuel

AMTP Proceedings 2025

In the last several years, the effort to reduce dependence on China supply networks and in general to lead western countries’ trade away from China has gained momentum. This effort largely led by the U.S. has been a result of supply chain uncertainty post COVID and growing geopolitical tensions between the two countries. China’s increasing global ambitions under President Xi Jinping, including territorial claims in the South China Sea and Taiwan have changed the view of China as a reliable global factory and trading partner to a major threat to U.S. power. U.S. policymakers view of China evolved from a …

Aircraft Leasing And Its Effects On Ireland's Airline Sector, Aaron Christian, Jeanne Sumrall

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

The aircraft leasing industry sits at the heart of Ireland’s aviation sector, making Ireland the global leader in the business. The presence of major leasing companies’ headquarters, including Avolon, SMBC and AerCap, in Ireland, allows for country to benefit from these companies’ revenue. In return, Ireland provides the companies with supportive tax and regulatory frameworks that benefit the aviation sector. The research on this topic explores different ways aircraft leasing contributes to airline efficiency through cost reductions and fleet modernization while minimizing financial risks associated with aircraft acquisition by utilizing computer programs. Operational modeling has become an essential tool for …

Director Overseas Experience And Cross-Border Acquisitions: Evidence From China, Liu Chenxi, Mengyao Kang

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

This study investigates the impact of director overseas experience on firms’ cross-border acquisition decisions. We find that firms with directors who have overseas experience tend to engage in more cross-border acquisitions. This finding remains robust across various types of overseas experience. This correlation is unlikely to be influenced by omitted variable biases or driven by reverse causality, where firms deliberately employ directors with overseas experience before initiating cross-border acquisitions. Additionally, director overseas experience is associated with higher announcement returns and enhanced post-merger performance. Further analysis reveals that director overseas experience affects cross-border acquisition decisions primarily through the cultural inclusivity channel. …

China’S Readiness For Transitioning To A Low-Carbon Economy: Mitigant And Catalyst Factors For A Geopolitical Conflict, Yan Chen, Jiayi Lyu, Jaime Ortiz, Wenbin Song

International Business and Entrepreneurship Faculty Publications

The transition from a carbon-intensive economy to a carbon-neutral one has become a critical global objective to address climate change. This study examines the relationship between Low-Carbon Economic Development (LCED) and Geopolitical Risk (GPR) in China by focusing on the challenges and opportunities they present. We use a qualitative analysis to identify that rising GPR, exacerbated by market instability, resource allocation conflicts, and trade disputes, significantly hinders LCED progress. However, these geopolitical tensions also act as a catalyst for accelerating the development of renewable energy, reducing reliance on traditional energy sources, and fostering low-carbon technologies. Furthermore, LCED can ameliorate GPR …

Amidst The Frenzy Over Deepseek Ai, Us Federal Science And Tech Policy Is A Mess Of Internal Contradictions, Yujia He

Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce Faculty Publications

The release of the R1 model by the Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) company, DeepSeek, shocked the US tech industry. Yujia He writes that while DeepSeek’s model may not be quite as superior compared to its competitors as originally thought, the Trump administration has responded to its innovations by further pushing for US leadership in AI. Taking a close look at US research and development policy under the second Trump administration, however, shows the significant disconnect between rhetoric and policy. Federal funding freezes and reduced funding for the National Science Foundation could have dire long-term consequences for research and international cooperation …

Internationalization And Investment Efficiency, Alireza Askarzadeh, Kenneth Yung

Graduate Student Government Association Research Conference

Conflicting results in the literature regarding the effect of internationalization on firm performance motivate this study to examine this effect through an important but less studied channel. Unlike previous literature mainly focusing on the impact of internationalization on firm financial performance, this study examines operational performance and probes how internationalization affects firms’ investment inefficiency, thus demonstrating an important aspect in determining the success of international strategies. By applying the concepts of transaction cost economics and agency theory to a sample of US firms between 1989 and 2022, we find evidence that internationalization has a positive relationship with investment inefficiency and …

Louboutin Lawfare: Exploring Conceptions Of Sanctions' Utility Through Export Controls On Luxury Goods, Vinita R. Singh

Northwestern University Law Review

There is widespread consensus amongst scholars that sanctions—the deliberate withdrawal of customary trade and financial relations—do not work. Despite this perception, states are deploying sanctions at an increasing rate. This Article explains this paradox by arguing the predominant notion of sanctions’ utility employed by scholars is unduly constrained, narrowly focusing on the ability of such measures to modify the behavior of sanctioned parties while disregarding the alternative benefits this instrument can deliver. To support this argument, this Article uses export controls on luxury goods deployed in connection with the Russo–Ukraine War as a case study. Under prevailing perceptions of sanctions’ …

From Cypherpunks To Decentralized Finance: How Crypto-Anarchy Is Redefining Legal And Economic Systems, Alesia Zhuk

Markets, Globalization & Development Review

This article explores the evolution of crypto-anarchy, tracing its origins from the cypherpunk movement to the rise of decentralized finance (DeFi) and its transformative effects on legal and economic systems. Central to crypto-anarchy is the belief in individual empowerment through privacy, financial autonomy, and decentralization, which allows users to bypass traditional intermediaries like banks. While these technologies offer increased freedom and financial inclusion, they also introduce significant risks such as money laundering, tax evasion, and the facilitation of illegal activities, posing challenges to current regulatory frameworks. The article examines the socio-economic implications of decentralization, including both the democratization of finance …

Exploring Internal Challenges In Internationalisation: A Case Of A Software As A Service (Saas) Internationaliser, Karl Erik Õim, Tairi Leis

European Management Studies

Purpose: The article examines the internal challenges encountered in internationalisation, focusing on Software as a Service (SaaS) companies. It aims to contribute to the literature on SaaS companies’ internationalisation by examining the unique challenges they face and the challenges they share with other types of firms.

Design/methodology/approach: It encompasses a case study of an international Estonian SaaS company. It is based on a semi-structured, in-depth interview and various additional information sources: internal information, websites, and publicly available financial data.

Findings: When the company was young, it lacked the capacity to cope with competitors. Establishing itself as a …

Due Diligence Obligations Over State Economic Entities In International Investment Law, Kevin Clement

Northwestern Journal of International Law & Business

The growing importance and sophistication of State capitalism and associated implementation of governmental policies through State economic entities, such as State-owned banks, State-owned enterprises, monopolies, and other entities close to the government, has given rise to a perception that existing international law rules are inadequate to effectively accommodate the activities of such entities. Sole reliance on customary international law principles of attribution has proven particularly problematic where governments maintain links with their economic entities that create a risk of the latter being used as conduits for governmental action. Such links may exist in a variety of forms beyond mere ownership, …

Culture, Labor Laws, And Foreign Investment: An Analysis On The Impact Of Uncertainty Avoidance, Annalee Benisek

Honors Program Theses

No abstract provided.

Analysing The Us—China “Ai Cold War” Narrative, Yujia He, Richard Heeks

Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce Faculty Publications

Discussions about artificial intelligence (AI) are gaining prominence in the recent revival of “cold war” narratives comparing US-China relations today to the historical rivalry between the US and the Soviet Union. Drawing on a review of existing academic and policy literature engaging with the “AI cold war” narrative, this paper examines how the narrative is justified, and numerous ways that it can be challenged. It finds that the framing is largely driven by the securitisation of AI, as state actors and policy pundits view AI innovations’ dual-use capabilities as key to national security and ideological competition. However, critics posit that …

Identifying Intangible And Biocultural Heritage Elements Toward Environmental Understanding: Engaging Stakeholders Through Art, Martha B. Lerski

Publications and Research

Grounded in a case study in Barbuda in the Caribbean, this research examines sustainability from the perspective of what arts and heritage can contribute to community engagement and local and broader understandings about the environment. This article documents a growing body of literature recognizing the role of arts and culture, including local knowledge and traditional ecological knowledge (TEK), in climate change endeavors. Art and TEK present expansive world views. Contextual information situates research done on the island of Barbuda pre- and post-Hurricane Irma. Visual arts workshops engaged community members in mixed methods research. Results documented cultural elements, particularly intangible and …

A Geopolitical Economy Analysis Of China And India’S Approaches To Transnational Data Governance, Yujia He, Ka Zeng

Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce Faculty Publications

Recent literature on the behavior of rising powers in digital trade and data governance highlights their discourses of data sovereignty and desire to preserve domestic policy autonomy. This article contributes to the literature by employing a political economy lens that shifts the focus from the nation-state/inter-state framework towards the dynamics of state–capital relations, allowing for a more historical and contextual understanding of the geopolitics of data governance in emerging economies. Using China and India—two of the largest emerging economies—as comparative cases, and drawing on secondary data from government documents and other sources, the article argues that the interplay between the …

The Effects Of Brand Activism On Brand Performance, Lin Zhao

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Brand activism—the explicit demonstration of a brand’s sociopolitical beliefs—has become increasingly prevalent and consequential. Concurrently, consumers now hold higher expectations for firms to engage in sociopolitical conversations, driven by the rise of belief-drive purchase in consumers’ decision-making and the growing ideological polarization worldwide. The interaction of brand activism and consumer behavior presents unique potential for brands to gain competitive advantages while contributing to social welfare. This dissertation comprises three essays that examine the effects of brand activism through multiple understudied yet compelling perspectives.

Essay One investigates how brand activism influences consumer-brand relationships through both transactional and relational lenses. This research …

Cross Country Analysis Of Leveraged Loan Issuance: A Comparative Case Study, Cristina D. Vasquez Boero

Honors Program Theses

This paper aims to examine the dynamics of the global leveraged loan market through a cross-country analysis of 32,635 loan issuances spanning 133 industries across 29 countries between 2005 and 2024. The study analyzes key loan-level variables; including commitment size, maturity time, facility type, pledge status, priority lien, economic sector, use of proceeds, issue year, and amortization schedule to identify cross-country variation in loan issuance patterns and borrower characteristics, comparing a selected sample of international countries with the United States. The results reveal that the market for leveraged loans has grown significantly over time, specifically due to a higher frequency …

Why Some Companies Weather Trade Was Better Than Others?, Di Fan, Daphne W. Yiu, Pengcheng Ma, Lin Cui

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

In 2018, the U.S. government levied tariffs affecting more than $250 billion of Chinese products. As a result, many American buyers began turning to alternative suppliers to avoid the significant new costs associated with purchasing from China. Recent research found that transactions between U.S. buyers and Chinese suppliers fell by more than 18% immediately following the start of the trade war. However, the study also found that not all companies were affected equally: Chinese firms that were more innovative or more socially responsible were more likely to retain their U.S. buyers, while buyers were more likely to distance themselves from …

Digital Battlegrounds: The Power Dynamics And Governance Of Contemporary Platforms, Richard A. Hunt, David M. Townsend, Joseph J. Simpson, Robert Nugent, Maximilian Stallkamp, Esin Bozdag

International Business and Entrepreneurship Faculty Publications

The ubiquity of digital platforms is undeniable, as is their transactional efficiency and world-flattening possibilities. Yet, these platforms are contested battlegrounds where stakeholder power struggles reflect and influence broader societal turbulence. In the emerging era, alongside the blinding speed and global reach of the gig economy are looming specters of rentier capitalism, digiserfdom, misinformation, data exploitation, digital addiction, and near-ungovernable algorithmic agents. To date, scholarly focus on digital platforms has been on their transactional features and impacts, dimensionalizing governance mechanisms as emanating from old economy conceptions of bottom-up or top-down checks and balances, or incentives and efficiencies. These emphases, while …

The Atlas Of Intercultural Communication: Navigating Conflict Resolution With Cultural Intelligence, Luz Marina Erturk

Department of Conflict Resolution Studies Theses and Dissertations

As universities become increasingly multicultural, intercultural communication is becoming an essential skill across campus roles. This study examined the role of cultural intelligence (CQ) in conflict resolution within university settings. Using a phenomenological approach, it explored how individuals in administrative, management, or counseling roles applied CQ in communication, negotiation, and conflict resolution. Twelve participants were interviewed, and data collection spanned five months. The study applied Earley and Ang’s four-factor model of CQ, which includes metacognitive, cognitive, motivational, and behavioral dimensions. The developmental model of intercultural sensitivity (DMIS) was also used to interpret how participants’ levels of intercultural sensitivity shaped their …

Transit-Oriented Development On Aquidneck Island: Considering The Costs And Benefits Of Restoring Passenger Rail Between Fall River, Massachusetts, And Newport, Rhode Island, Maeve M. Newton

Pell Scholars and Senior Theses

This thesis considers the costs and benefits of restoring historic infrastructure as transit-oriented development on Aquidneck Island, and its potential to bridge social and economic gaps between the urban communities of Newport, Rhode Island, and Fall River, Massachusetts. There is a direct need for more robust public transportation on Aquidneck Island along with environmentally friendly planning initiatives, and reinstating the Newport Secondary Rail Line for passenger rail service to the new Fall River MBTA station is one important way for historic preservation to be utilized for the improvement of sustainability and socioeconomic equity in the region. Original research will be …

America’S Hidden Heroine: The Revolutionary Experience Of Deborah Sampson, Rebecca A. Dawson

Pell Scholars and Senior Theses

This thesis explores the life of Deborah Sampson, a female soldier in the Fourth Massachusetts Regiment during the American Revolution. The author discusses how and why Sampson joined the military, the challenges she had to overcome, and her experience as the first American woman to lead a public lecture tour. Sampson continues to serve as an embodiment of resilience, courage, and the Spirit of ‘76.

“Tw-Ironic": The Ironic Consumption Of Media Examined Through Twilight, Sydney J. Rooney

Pell Scholars and Senior Theses

“It’s so bad it’s good” is a phrase often uttered in order to justify watching, reading, or listening to a piece of media with a poor reputation. In the 20 years since the first novel’s debut, the Twilight saga has become renowned for its massive level of popularity and influence. However, it has also faced a great deal of backlash and criticism for a variety of reasons, which affected the nature of the fan base. Through analysis of short-form content, the ironic consumption of Twilight media is observed in contemporary times.

A New Frontier In Political Communications: Analyzing The Electoral Influence Of The 1960 Televised Presidential Debates, Leah Spengler

Pell Scholars and Senior Theses

Although Kennedy’s success in the 1960 election is often attributed to his performance in the first televised presidential debates, I contend that the party affiliation of voters and proposed policies by Kennedy, specifically those targeting civil rights, held more weight in securing his victory. The Kennedy image had been carefully curated for over a decade prior to the election, and Kennedy’s performance in the first televised debates reinforced the calm and collected impression he wanted to make to the American people. While his debate performance held significance as it was the first to be televised and led to a discrepancy …

The Militarization Of Space: The Cold War And The Space Race, Malin Wahl

Pell Scholars and Senior Theses

The weaponization of space during the Cold War would have posed a significant threat to global security if left unchecked. The Cold War showcased the ideological rivalry between the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and their development of a nuclear arsenal. Space was an unexplored domain that actors thought could be weaponized and even become a strategic advantage if a war between these superpowers broke out. The decision to not militarize space, not place orbital weapons in space, and not utilize weapons of mass destruction came from a standoff in which both parties could …

Instruments Implementation Audits And Development Strategies For Taiwan As A Non-Member State Of The Imo, Hui-Huang Tai, Tun-Hao Hsu

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has formulated numerous maritime-related conventions. The promotion of mandatory audits is required to ensure that the implementation of maritime management systems in various countries complies with the IMO Instruments Implementation Code (III Code) and that both member states and non-member states implement these conventions. This is not only an obligation but also a responsibility for all countries to promote the development of the maritime industry. This study investigates how Taiwan, one of the non-member state of the IMO, implements the audit process and develops future implementation strategies for various maritime conventions. This issue is of …

Mcdonald’S Corporation Case Analysis Fall 2025, Madalynn Janousek

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

McDonald’s Corporation has experienced rapid growth and expansion across the United States and globally, entering diverse markets despite evolving regulations, dietary trends, and consumer preferences. The company’s marketing strategies and ability to adapt have been strongly influenced by the leadership of its CEOs over time. Most recently, CEO Chris Kempczinski has been tasked with guiding the company through a post–COVID-19 market marked by staffing shortages, economic pressures, declining customer service, and rising consumer expectations. While McDonald’s continues to hold a significant share of the market, it must invest in improved customer service, innovative marketing, and healthier menu options to remain …

On Blockchain As A Tool Against Corporate Corruption, Yannis Normand

Northwestern Journal of International Law & Business

Over the last decades domestic and international legal frameworks have successfully coalesced to limit corrupt behavior worldwide. However, despite their success, current regulatory tools are not sufficiently well-equipped to address corruption in modern economic settings. These mechanisms can often be too costly to implement, too cumbersome to induce compliance, politically manipulatable, and may disincentivize foreign investment and internal corporate monitoring efforts. To address such drawbacks, policymakers should consider the introduction of blockchain-based tools in developing future anti-corruption efforts.

Blockchain can serve as a foundation for structures that can make it more attractive, easier and cost-efficient to monitor economic transactions, to …

“There Is No Fashion On A Dead Planet:”1 How A Mandatory Reporting Directive Shared By The Us And The Eu And Centered On Transparency Could Be The First Step To Increased Sustainability In The Fashion Industry, Adrienne Redman

Northwestern Journal of International Law & Business

The fashion industry hangs on self-expression and individualism, yet our methods of consumption and their resulting environmental impacts are far from an individualistic concern. This paper examines the global fashion industry’s substantial contribution to pollution, resource-depletion, and waste as evidence that the self-regulation model is insufficient to curb the environmental footprint of the industry. Self-regulation presumes that consumer awareness and the desire to purchase sustainably will be enough to limit the industry’s environmental impact. However, this presumption is undermined by a lack of standardized and enforceable regulations necessary for consumer-decision making. Instead, greenwashing and deceptive environmental claims have pervaded the …