跨国公司管理第三章

Chapter3Legal,Technological,andPoliticalForces“HarryPotterhaswovenaspelloverthepublishingindustry.”HarryPotterGoestoChinaOneofthebest-knowncelebritiesofthenewmillenniumisHarryPotter,ayoungwizardandtheheroofaseriesofbookswrittenbytheBritishauthorJ.KRowling.Istheresuchathingasbeingtoopopular?WithinsixmonthsofhisChinesedebutthefifthHarryPotternovel-HarryPotterandtheLeopard-Walk-Up-To-Dragon-wasbeingsnappedupbyeageryoungreadersthroughoutChina.TheLegalEnvironmentAdomesticfirmmustfollowthelawsandcustomsofitshomecountry.Butaninternationalbusinessfacesamorecomplextask:Itmustobeythelawsnotonlyofitshomecountrybutalsothelawsofthehostcountriesinwhichitoperates.DifferenceinLegalSystemsDetailsabout“LawandInternet”CivilLaw:Itisbasedonacodification,ordetailedlisting,ofwhatisandisnotpermissible.CommonLaw:Itisbasedonthecumulativewisdomofjudges’decisionsonindividualcasesthroughcaseshistory.Statutorylawswhichareenactedbylegislativeactions,alsovaryamongthecommonlawcountries.ReligiousLaw:Itisbasedontheofficiallyestablishedrulesgoverningthefaithandpracticeofaparticularreligion.Acountrythatappliesreligiouslawtocivilandcriminalconductiscalledatheocracy.DomesticallyOrientedLawsThelawsofthecountriesinwhichaninternationalbusinessoperatesplayamajorroleinshapingtheopportunitiesavailabletothatfirm.LawsDirectlyAffectingInternationalBusinessTransactions.BureaucraticLaw:Itiswhateverthecountry’sbureaucratssayitis,regardlessoftheformallawoftheland.“WhereDoOldToyotasGo?Siberia,ofCourse”Letseesometermsofthissections:sanctions,embargo,dual-use,andextraterritoriality.LawsDirectedAgainstForeignFirmsLetfocusonsometermsofnationalization,expropriationandconfiscation.Privatization:Theconversionofstate-ownedpropertytoprivatelyownedpropertyiscalledprivation.ConstraintsonForeignOwnership.Manygovernmentslimitforeignownershipofdomesticfirmstoavoidhavingtheireconomiesorkeyindustriescontrolledbyforeigners.TheimpactsofMNCsonHostCountriesEconomicandPoliticalImpactsCulturalImpactsDisputeResolutioninInternationalBusinessDisputeininternationalcommercecanbeverycomplicated.Typically,fourquestionsmustbeansweredforaninternationaldisputetoberesolved:1、Whichcountry’slawapplies2、Inwhichcountryshouldtheissueberesolved?3、Whichtechniqueshouldbeusedtoresolvetheconflict:litigation,arbitration,mediation,ornegotiation?4、Howwillthesettlementbeenforced?Whetheraforeigncourtorderisenforcedisdeterminedbytheprincipleofcomity.Theprincipleofcomityprovidesthatacountrywillhonorandenforcewithinitsownterritorythejudgmentsanddecisionsofforeigncourts,withcertainlimitation.Fortheprincipletoapply,countriescommonlyrequirethreeconditionstobemet:1、Reciprocityisextendedbetweenthecountries;thatis,countryAandcountryBmutuallyagreetohonoreachother’scourtdecisions.2、Thedefendantisgivenpropernotice.3、Theforeigncourtjudgmentdoesnotviolatedomesticstatutesortreatyobligations.TheTechnologicalEnvironmentTable3.1shows“SoftwarePiracyRankings”,involving20countrieswiththeHighestPiracyRatesandtheLowestPiracyRates.ThePoliticalEnvironmentPoliticalRiskTherearedefinitionsabout“politicalriskassessment”,and“politicalrisk”including“macropoliticalrisk”,“micropoloticalrisk”.ExamplesofPoliticalRisksareshownintable3.2Map3.3showscountries’relativepoliticalriskless,2006Andtheclosingcaseis“Ajobfor007”