Submitted by Mario BC (mario@bc.ufrpe.br) on 2016-05-31T15:35:09Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Brenda Sales Meireles de Lemos.pdf: 1735552 bytes, checksum: a9ee2a98a197d1d415d7413106edcb1c (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-05-31T15:35:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Brenda Sales Meireles de Lemos.pdf: 1735552 bytes, checksum: a9ee2a98a197d1d415d7413106edcb1c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-02-26 / Regionalization is widely studied from geographical point of view when you want to know something about a particular region or economic point of view when you want to cut a region and from this study the aspects of its economy, in scientific circles, however, this theme from the market point of view there is still deepening opportunities. In recent years, we could see the execution of the latter concept being implemented by multinational food in northeastern Brazil, on, this work aims to evaluate consumer behavior in this movement. The economic rise of the poorer classes sparked interest in these companies, who chose this region to gain competitive advantages over its competitors, allowing them to direct its global efforts mercadológicos acting locally. To meet the proposed objective, we conducted a survey applying questionnaire with one hundred sample and fifty consumers belonging to the CDE classes in the city of Recife / PE, to reach this consumer profile, selected among the three poorest districts of the city and these They were addressed in the neighborhood grocery randomly selected for the sample. The result is that the vast majority of consumers buy quality products, often products of the multinationals themselves, but do not consume the regionalized products introduced to the market by these companies. The conclusion obtained in this research allows us to understand that the regionalization strategy planned and executed by the multinational research participants food is not reflecting consumer preference for buying and even the memory of their brands as their favorite. / A regionalização é amplamente estudada do ponto de vista geográfico quando se deseja conhecer algo acerca de uma região específica ou do ponto de vista econômico quando se deseja recortar determinada região e a partir desta estudar as vertentes de sua economia, no meio científico, contudo, este tema do ponto de vista mercadológico ainda se verifica oportunidades de aprofundamento. Nos últimos anos, pudemos perceber a execução desse último conceito sendo implementado por multinacionais de alimentos na região Nordeste do Brasil, diante disso, este trabalho tem como objetivo avaliar a comportamento do consumidor diante desse movimento. A ascensão econômica das classes mais pobres despertou interesse nessas empresas, que escolheram essa região para obter vantagens competitivas frente a seus concorrentes, permitindo-as direcionar seus esforços mercadológicos globais atuando de forma local. Para responder ao objetivo proposto, realizamos uma pesquisa aplicando questionário com uma amostra de cento e cinquenta consumidores pertencentes às classes CDE, na cidade de Recife/PE, para alcançar esse perfil de consumidor, os selecionamos dentre os três bairros mais pobres da cidade e estes foram abordados nos mercadinhos de bairro sorteados para a amostra. O resultado obtido é que a grande maioria dos consumidores adquirem produtos de qualidade, muitas vezes produtos das próprias multinacionais, porém não consomem os produtos regionalizados lançados para o mercado por estas empresas. A conclusão obtida nessa pesquisa permite entender que a estratégia de regionalização planejada e executada pelas multinacionais de alimentos participantes da pesquisa não está refletindo no consumidor a preferência de compra e nem a lembrança de suas marcas como sendo suas preferidas.

Submitted by Fabio Sobreira Campos da Costa (fabio.sobreira@ufpe.br) on 2017-05-05T12:45:19Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Dissertação_Gardiner_Gabriel.pdf: 3755831 bytes, checksum: 77fadca7de2cf1f6ed974df044baae45 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-05T12:45:19Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Dissertação_Gardiner_Gabriel.pdf: 3755831 bytes, checksum: 77fadca7de2cf1f6ed974df044baae45 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-08-22 / OEA- Organização dos Estados Americanos / This dissertation attempts to analyze the concept of political risk, its evolution and application both within the academic and market setting. An endeavor to contribute to the quantification of the political risk field is made via econometric modeling. Overall, 6 different indicators for political risk are employed in the empirical analysis. The results show that political risk is a highly significant determinant to foreign investment inflows on emerging market countries. Though political risk is a phenomenon that is present in all countries both highly industrialized and still developing, this study is focused on the emerging market economy. Due to the rise in importance of the emerging market within the global economy, special emphasis is dedicated towards the new capitalist tools developed by the administrators of the emerging market economy. / Esta dissertação tenta analisar o conceito de risco político, sua evolução e aplicação tanto acadêmica quanto mercadológica. Com um modelo econométrico, pretende-se contribuir para a quantificação no campo do risco político. O trabalho emprega seis indicadores diferentes de risco político. Os resultados mostram que o risco político é um determinante altamente significativo do fluxo de investimento estrangeiro direto nos países de mercado emergente. Embora o risco político seja um fenômeno presente em todos os países, altamente industrializados e também nos ainda em desenvolvimento, este estudo se foca nas economias de mercado emergentes. Devido à crescente importância dos mercados emergentes na economia global, ênfase especial é dedicada aos novos instrumentos capitalistas (fundo soberano, empresa estatal e campeão nacional) desenvolvidos por administradores de economias de mercado emergente.

Em anos recentes, tem-se observado papeis novos para uma subsidiaria estrangeira, quando ela atua em um processo de expansão dos negócios para outro país, denotando sua relevância estratégica maior para a empresa multinacional (EMN). Nesse caso, ao invés de assumir um papel convencional, a filial participa ativamente de uma nova etapa de internacionalização da empresa, algumas vezes até liderando o processo. A singularidade do fenômeno torna-se ainda maior (e mais instigante) quando a EMN é proveniente de um país desenvolvido, e uma subsidiária localizada em um país emergente assume tal papel em sua internacionalização. Esta pesquisa se debruça sobre essa temática, abordando um fenômeno ainda pouco explorado pela literatura, ao investigar o papel da subsidiária brasileira quando esta participa da internacionalização dos negócios da EMN. Em virtude das peculiaridades citadas, a pesquisa foi conduzida por meio de dois estudos de caso realizados em subsidiárias brasileiras com reconhecida participação em processos de internacionalização, pertencentes a multinacionais do setor automotivo, uma delas de origem italiana (Magneti Marelli Cofap) e a outra alemã (Wahler). Foram identificados e analisados os fatores motivadores, facilitadores e inibidores que impactaram a participação da subsidiária brasileira, bem como as atribuições e responsabilidades assumidas pela mesma em tais processos, e as principais práticas de gestão aprendidas pela multinacional. Em um dos casos avaliados, constatou-se que o fator primordial para participação da subsidiária brasileira foi a sua iniciativa de propor à matriz a expansão dos negócios em outro país, seguida pela concessão de maior autonomia à mesma pela matriz; no outro caso estudado, verificou-se que o domínio de competências essenciais por sua unidade brasileira e o seu papel de centro de excelência foram fundamentais para que esta liderasse diversos episódios de internacionalização da empresa. A pesquisa apresenta um conjunto de considerações, que pode ser útil como subsídio para adaptação ou aprimoramento das práticas de gestão em EMNs, servindo como base para o uso adequado das competências de suas subsidiárias, na formulação e na execução de estratégias, em processos de internacionalização. / In recent years, new roles have been observed for a foreign subsidiary, when it takes part on a business expansion process to another country, indicating its bigger strategic relevance for the multinational corporation (MNC). In this case, rather than taking a conventional role, the subsidiary actively participates in a new internationalization step of the company, sometimes even leading the process. The phenomenon becomes even more unique (and more instigating) if the MNC is from a developed country, and a subsidiary located in an emerging country assumes such a role in the internationalization process. This research deals with this theme, addressing a phenomenon still little explored by literature, by investigating the role of a Brazilian subsidiary when it participates in the MNC internationalization. Because of the mentioned peculiarities, the research was conducted through two case studies in Brazilian subsidiaries with recognized involvement in the internationalization, owned by MNCs of the automotive industry, one of Italian origin (Magneti Marelli Cofap) and the other German (Wahler). The motivating, facilitators and inhibitors factors which impacted the participation of the Brazilian subsidiary were identified and analyzed, as well as its roles and responsibilities in such processes, and the key management practices learned by the multinational. In one of the studied cases, it was found that the most important reason for the Brazilian subsidiary participation was its initiative to propose to headquarters the business expansion in another country, followed by headquarters granting more autonomy to it; in the other case, it was found that the core competences\' domain by the Brazilian unit, and its role as a center of excellence, were fundamental to have it leading several internationalization experiences of the company. The research presents a set of considerations, which can be useful as a support for adapting or improving the management practices in MNCs, serving as the basis for the proper use of its subsidiaries\' competences in defining and implementing their internationalization strategies.

Apenas um seleto grupo de candidatos é aprovado nos Programas Trainee promovidos anualmente em nosso país por corporações multinacionais, as quais podem ser compreendidas como instituições paradigmáticas na sociedade contemporânea devido à grande influência que nela exercem. Este estudo tem como objetivo conhecer as atitudes de trainees frente às exigências feitas pelas empresas em que se colocaram. Fizemos uma pesquisa qualitativa, na qual realizamos entrevistas semi-estruturadas com três sujeitos provenientes de empresas diferentes. O referencial teórico utilizado foi a Psicanálise e a Teoria Crítica da Sociedade. A partir das análises das entrevistas pudemos inferir que as atitudes dos sujeitos para com as exigências das empresas em que se encontram são bastante similares: caracterizam-se por uma adesão às demandas corporativas e uma pré-disposição para se comportar de acordo com estas. Os resultados indicam que as empresas se utilizam de mecanismos de gestão de pessoas dirigidos à psicologia dos sujeitos, suscitando nestes uma adesão ao ideal corporativo com pouca ou nenhuma crítica. Os trainees aderem a este ideal, que tem como modelos ideais os executivos bem sucedidos e se caracteriza pela apologia ao sacrifício do sujeito, realizada pelo trabalho excessivo como meio para atingir um alto padrão de vida e uma posição de poder. O vínculo dos trainees com as empresas parece ser provisório e pragmático, assemelhando-se ao capital financeiro, que investe em determinado negócio enquanto este lhe traz lucros interessantes / Only a select group of candidates are approved in Trainee Programs that are organized annually in our country by multinational companies, these can be understood as paradigmatic institutions in contemporary society due to the large influence over it. The research objective is to know the attitudes of trainees against the requirements of the companies that they are employees. We did a qualitative research with half structured interviews with three differents employees companies. The theoretical framework was Psychoanalysis and Critical Theory of Society. From the analysis of the interviews we could infer that the attitudes of the employees against the requirements of their companies jobs are very similar: characterize by an adherence to corporate demands and a predisposition to behave in accordance with them. The results indicate that companies make use of people managements mechanisms throw the psychology of individuals, raising in these employees the idea company with little or no criticism. Trainees adhere this ideology which is ideal models successful executives and is characterized by the apology to the individual sacrifice carried out by overwork as a means to achieve a high standard of living and a power position. The link between trainees with the companies seem to be provisional and pragmatic resembling the financial capital, investing in certain business while it brings interesting profits

Esse estudo buscou avaliar de que forma a internacionalização tem contribuído para o desempenho financeiro das empresas brasileiras como um todo e para o desempenho financeiro das suas operações internacionais. Por meio de uma survey realizada no ano de 2006 em 51 empresas de capital nacional pertencentes a diversos setores, esta pesquisa nos permitiu refletir sobre a forma da relação entre grau de internacionalização (GI) e desempenho financeiro das empresas brasileiras. Os resultados sugerem, ao nível de significância de 5%, que o desempenho financeiro geral das multinacionais brasileiras está associado ao GI. Os grupos de empresas com menor GI e com maior GI na dimensão da porcentagem de ativos no exterior apresentaram melhores desempenhos financeiros gerais em relação ao grupo de empresas que estão em um grau intermediário nessa dimensão do GI. Quando analisamos a relação entre o GI (medido como o intervalo da porcentagem de empregados no exterior) e o desempenho financeiro das operações internacionais das empresas, testes não paramétricos indicaram uma curva em forma de U ao nível de significância de 5%. Esse formato de curva sugere um efeito negativo inicial da expansão internacional no desempenho financeiro, antes do alcance de resultados positivos com a internacionalização, o que contrasta com o formato de uma curva em S encontrada em estudos recentes sobre o tema. Modelos de regressão simples e múltipla desenvolvidos nesse estudo também revelaram a associação do GI com o desempenho financeiro das empresas. Dentre as variáveis utilizadas para a medição do grau de internacionalização, as seguintes se mostram relevantes para explicar o desempenho financeiro das empresas em um ou mais modelos de regressão: a porcentagem de empregados no exterior, a porcentagem de ativos no exterior, a atuação em mais de três regiões geográficas mundiais e a listagem em Bolsas de Valores. Também foi observada a relevância do setor de atuação como variável moderadora da relação GI-desempenho financeiro, já que empresas do setor de manufatura intensa em insumos básicos apresentaram maiores margens EBITDA do que as demais. Uma das implicações dessa pesquisa é que as empresas brasileiras não devem ser desencorajadas por efeitos negativos nos seus desempenhos financeiros nos estágios iniciais dos seus processos de internacionalização. Como os resultados sugerem, ao adquirir conhecimento e novas competências para atuar internacionalmente, as empresas obterão benefícios que, eventualmente, serão maiores do que os custos associados à internacionalização e o impacto no desempenho financeiro será positivo. / This study aimed to evaluate how internationalization has contributed to the general financial performance of Brazilian companies and to the performance of their international operations. Through a survey applied in 2006 to 51 companies with Brazilian ownership structure, from different industries, this research allowed us to reflect about the shape of the relationship between degree of internationalization (DOI) and financial performance of Brazilian companies. The results suggested, at a 5% significance level, that the general financial performance of the Brazilian multinationals is associated with their DOI. The groups of companies with lower DOI and higher DOI in the dimension of percentage of foreign assets presented better general financial performances than the group of companies that hold an intermediary level at this DOI dimension. When analyzing the relationship between DOI (measured by intervals of the percentage of foreign employees) and financial performance of the companies international operations, non-parametric tests indicated a U-shaped curve at a 5% significance level. This curve shape suggests an initially negative effect of international expansion on performance, before the positive returns of international expansion are realized, and contrasts with the S-shaped curve identified in recent studies about the subject. Simple and multiple regression models developed in this study also revealed the association between DOI and financial performance of the companies. Among the variables used to measure the DOI, the following emerged as relevant to explain the financial performance in one or more regression models: the percentage of foreign employees, the percentage of foreign assets, the presence in more than three geographical regions of the world and the listing on stock exchanges. It was also observed the relevance of the companies sector as a moderating variable of the DOI-financial performance relationship, since companies from sectors of intense manufacturing on raw materials presented higher EBITDA margins than the others. One implication of this research is that Brazilian companies should not be discouraged by negative effects of internationalization on their financial performances in the initial stages of their internationalization process. As the results suggest, after acquiring knowledge and new competences to operate abroad, the company will achieve benefits that, eventually, will overcome the internationalization costs, leading to a positive impact on the financial performance.

Ao longo das últimas décadas, a competitividade empresarial foi e continuará dependente da inovação em suas diversas formas. Estruturas dinâmicas e abertas para gerar e compartilhar conhecimentos, competências e tecnologias estão ganhando espaço, não só nos grandes grupos empresariais, localizados em países desenvolvidos, mas em empresas dos mais variados portes e de nacionalidades variadas, com destaque para as multinacionais dos países emergentes. Estas constatações são de suma importância às temáticas de inovação, internacionalização e cooperação, mas o ponto-chave é compreender que, na atualidade, a fonte primordial da competitividade empresarial está relacionada não apenas à inovação propriamente dita, mas em como a inovação é dinâmica e continuamente criada, disseminada e renovada. Foi a partir desse cenário que este trabalho se propôs a verificar como a trajetória e a maturidade da cooperabilidade influenciam a inovação local e global das Multinacionais Brasileiras (MNBrs). Para tanto, foi realizada uma pesquisa baseada na utilização sequencial das abordagens qualitativas e quantitativas. O método utilizado na etapa qualitativa foi o estudo de casos múltiplos, dado que três MNBrs foram analisadas em profundidade: Petrobras, Braskem e Oxiteno. Os dados qualitativos foram coletados por meio de entrevistas e, para analisá-los, utilizou-se análise documental e de conteúdo, sendo também adotado o software ATLAS na análise comparativa dos casos. Na etapa quantitativa foi realizado um levantamento junto ao universo de MNBrs, sendo que uma amostra definitiva de 60 empresas responderam um questionário estruturado. A análise dos dados quantitativos foi processada pelo software SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) versão 17.0., cujos testes estatísticos realizados foram o X2, o Alpha de Cronbach, a Correlação, a fatorial, o Componente Principal e a Regressão Múltipla. Os resultados obtidos nas etapas qualitativas e quantitativas geraram conclusões sobre (a) os fatores que afetam a trajetória da cooperabilidade, (b) os fatores que afetam a maturidade da cooperabilidade e (c) o impacto da trajetória e da maturidade da cooperabilidade sobre a inovação local e global que, por fim, culminaram na (d) proposição de um modelo sobre a cooperabilidade. / Over the past decades, business competitiveness has been dependent on innovation and will continue to be so in its various forms. Dynamic and open structures to generate and share knowledge, skills and technologies are spawning not only in large corporate groups located in developed countries, but also in companies of all sizes and different nationalities, especially multinationals from emerging countries. These findings are of relevant importance to innovation, internationalization and cooperation, but the key point is to understand that, currently, the primary source of corporate competitiveness is related not only to the innovation itself, but also in how innovation is dynamic and continuously created, disseminated and renewed. It was from this scenario that this study aimed to verify how the trajectory and maturity of innovation cooperability influence local and global Brazilian Multinationals (BMN). For this purpose, a survey was conducted based on the sequential use of qualitative and quantitative approaches. The method used in the qualitative step was the multiple case study, given that three BMN were analyzed in depth: Petrobras, Braskem and Oxiteno. Qualitative data were collected through interviews and in order to analyze them, documents and content analysis was used, besides the adoption of ATLAS software in comparative case analysis. In the quantitative stage, a survey to the universe of MNBrs was conducted, with a final sample of 60 firms which answered a structured questionnaire. The quantitative analysis was conducted using the software SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) version 17.0, whose performed statistical tests were the X2, the Cronbach\'s alpha, the correlation, the factor, the Principal Component and Multiple Regression. The results obtained in qualitative and quantitative steps generated conclusions about (a) the factors affecting the trajectory of cooperability, (b) the factors affecting the maturity of cooperability and (c) the impact of history and maturity of cooperability on local and global innovation, which finally resulted in (d) proposing a model on cooperability.

M.Com. (Business Management) / South Africa has for a long time been considered as the gateway into Africa. With the potential Nigeria is showing, it appears that the privilege of this opportunity may soon be diminishing. Nigeria is considered an exciting emerging market because it provides investors with a ready and established market not only because of the huge population size, but also because oil and other natural resources in Nigeria remain critical resources that are a compelling drawcard for foreign investors. It is no coincidence that Nigeria has attracted the most foreign direct investment in Africa, amounting to US$8.9 billion (Ernst & Young, 2012). In undertaking global strategies for global expansion, multinational organisations need to have a firm understanding of the macro, market and micro environment in which they will be entering and operating. These multinationals also need to plan how they will adapt their home country strategy to their host country strategy. Market challenges and positioning the firm in an emerging market are key aspects that need to be investigated, understood and to a certain extent, perfected. The research question posed in this paper addressed the inherent challenges posed to multinational service firms, in particular Ernst & Young (EY), when conducting business operations in Nigeria. The research adopted a qualitative research methodology which allowed the collection of the opinions of senior executives in EY, both in South Africa and in Nigeria, as well as clients of EY in Nigeria. The data collection method employed included digital-recorded in-depth interviews after which the data was analysed through content analysis and from which codes and categories were extracted. The research results pointed to pertinent macro, market and micro challenges facing a professional services firm such as, but not limited to infrastructure support, bureaucracy and the importance of relationships. This case study research provides key information about potential challenges and opportunities facing a professional services firm and links these challenges and opportunities of Nigeria’s macro, market and micro environment with strategic marketing concepts, in particular positioning strategies that an organisation can implement when attempting to position the business for market growth.

Abstract The present study develops the knowledge of industrial customer relationships by examining how multinational corporations (MNCs) make sense of global customer relationships. This study also discusses how individuals make sense of global customer relationships inside of MNC networks. Sensemaking is thus viewed as both an individual action and an organizational-level action. In this research, individual sensemaking views are combined into organizational-level understanding to offer a multilevel approach to both relationships and networks. The empirical study is a qualitative single-case study that focuses on three global customer relationships of an MNC. This research describes the sensemade views of the selected customer relationships and explores how these views are created. The discussed customer relationships are global by nature, they cross national borders, and they involve the episodic and discontinuous project level as well as global customer relationships that are managed at a more continuous organizational level, and these relationships are intertwined over time. The sensemaking of customer relationships is intertwined with relationship development. This research creates an understanding of sensemaking and operationalizes the concept by showing the different types of sensemaking and exploring how individuals make sense. This research also identifies primary sensemakers whose acting and sensemaking have contributed to developing the MNC view of global customer relationships and connected the multiple different views. This research shows that within a single corporation, multiple different understandings of the customer as well as of the type and status of customer relationship can exist. This research describes how the sensemaking process inside of a network functions and how the MNC sensemade views of the customer relationship are formed from multiple individual views. In addition, the definition of an MNC is widened in this research, and an MNC is defined as an internal network that is formed around its customer relationships. Customers constitute a key driving force of internal cooperation and create the environment in which individuals strive to make sense of their own network and of the customers with whom they are operating. / Tiivistelmä Tässä väitöskirjassa keskitytään teollisiin asiakassuhteisiin tutkimalla, miten monikansallinen yritys luo ymmärrystä globaaleista asiakassuhteistaan. Lisäksi työssä keskitytään siihen, miten yrityksen sisäisessä verkostossa työskentelevät yksilöt luovat omaa ymmärrystään globaaleista asiakassuhteista. Ymmärryksen luomista tutkitaan siis sekä yksilö- että organisaatiotason toimintana. Monikansallisessa yrityksessä eri yksilöiden näkemykset yhdistyvät organisaatiotason ymmärrykseksi asiakkaasta, minkä vuoksi suhteita ja verkostoja tutkitaan usealla analyysitasolla. Tutkimuksen empiirinen osuus toteutetaan laadullisena, yhden tapauksen tapaustutkimuksena, joka keskittyy monikansallisen yrityksen kolmeen asiakassuhteeseen. Nämä asiakassuhteet ovat luonteeltaan globaaleja ja ylittävät maantieteelliset rajat. Organisaatiotason asiakassuhde toimittajan ja asiakkaan välillä voidaan kuvata jatkuvaksi, vaikka asiakassuhde käytännössä koostuukin useista epäjatkuvista projekteista eri maantieteellisten ja teknologisten yksiköiden välillä. Organisaatio- ja projektitason suhteet kietoutuvat toisiinsa suhteen kehittyessä. Ymmärryksen luominen asiakkaasta on jatkuva prosessi ja se tapahtuu samanaikaisesti asiakassuhteen kehittymisen kanssa. Tässä tutkimuksessa kuvataan, kuinka asiakkaista luodaan ymmärrystä organisaatio- ja yksilötasolla. Tutkimuksessa tunnistetaan keskeisiä henkilöitä, joiden toiminta rakentaa monikansallisen yrityksen ymmärrystä globaaleista asiakassuhteista ja yhdistää eri yksilöiden näkemyksiä. Tutkimuksessa havaitaan, että yhden organisaation sisällä voi olla lukuisia eri ymmärryksiä asiakassuhteesta ja sen tilasta. Tutkimus kuvaakin, kuinka ymmärrystä luodaan organisaation sisäisessä verkostossa ja miten organisaatiotason ymmärrys globaaleista asiakassuhteista muodostuu useiden eri yksilöiden käsityksistä. Lisäksi tässä tutkimuksessa monikansallisen yrityksen määritelmää laajennetaan kuvaamalla se sisäiseksi verkostoksi, joka rakentuu asiakassuhteiden ympärille. Asiakas on tärkein ohjaava voima sisäisessä yhteistyössä. Toimiessaan yrityksen sisäisessä verkostossa, yksilöt pyrkivät luomaan ymmärrystä omasta ympäröivästä verkostostaan sekä asiakkaista, joiden kanssa he toimivat.

The ecological pressure threatening our planet is about to become even more severe as population is expected to grow 30 % by 2050. The injustices between the developed and the developing countries are enormous, where the developing countries have to survive on just a small fraction of what the developed countries consume.In order for our planet to remain sustainable large changes have to be made.As large multinational companies represent a majority of the world trade they have to assume an extra large part of responsibility in order for the changes to happen. Based on this I have conducted a qualitative research based on semi structured interviews with four multinational Swedish corporations with the aim to identify future trends of strategic corporate social responsibility (CSR). The definition of CSR in this study was “human rights”, “anti-corruption”, “labour standards” and “environment”.The results of this research show that the companies in this study have CSR programs that are designed to help fulfilling their missions and goals, which means that the firms practice strategic CSR. “Human rights”, “anti-corruption” and “labour standards” is considered to be very important today and to a large extent taken for granted in Sweden. Business value is being allocated to ”labour standards” and “environment”. The major change foreseen in the future is that the business value of “environment” is expected to increase dramatically.The corporations covered in this research are increasingly taking their responsibility and the trend is going towards having CSR fully integrated in their businesses, being an increasingly important part of their strategies and a natural part of everyday business.

Two literatures exist concerning cross-border merger activity's impact on domestic wages: one focusing on positive spillover-effects; the other focusing on negative bargaining-effects. Motivated by scarce theoretical scholarship spanning these literatures, we nest both mechanisms in a single conceptual framework. Considering the separate phenomena of inward and outward cross-border merger activity, our theoretical model generates three formal propositions: cross-border mergers can lead to wage increases via positive spillover-effects; and negative bargaining-effects are relatively more dominant when union market power is high, and when merging firms exhibit relatedness. Employing US firm-level panel data on wages combined with industry-level data on unionization and merger activity (covering 1989-2001), we find support for our propositions as inward and outward cross-border merger activity generate positive spillovers to wages, but are more likely to generate firm-level wage decreases when unionization rates are high and when cross-border merger activity is characterized as horizontal. Accordingly, future research on how cross-border mergers affect domestic wages should be mindful that both spillover and bargaining effects are at play, and that the degree of union market-power and the relatedness of cross-border merger activity are critical in determining which effect dominates. (authors' abstract)