Global Law and Economics (5cr)

Objective

This course will provide international managers with the practical economics and legal frameworks required for operating internationally.

Participants will learn to form a quick and well-grounded assessment of the most attractive target countries for their products, and the most appropriate legal form of entry or expansion.

The economics section of this course will focus on the concepts and tools required for:
- Understanding the current economic situation of a country through its core indicators
- Identifying the strengths and weaknesses of a target country
- Mapping the key country risks factors, and their impact in operations
- Benefitting from the opportunities from international trade blocks and organizations

The legal section of this course will focus on the legal structures that an international business manager needs to know for operating in a target market. In a practical manner, participants will learn specific frameworks required to follow-up and keep under control the key legal processes required for international operations, always from a hands-on management perspective.
Note: this course will focus mostly on legal aspects of international operations of a more stable nature (foreign company establishment, distribution, franchising, outsourcing...).
Basic legal elements of international operations (basics of international business law, import-export operations) are covered in bachelor level International Business Law courses.

Content

GLOBAL ECONOMICS SECTION
- Overview: analysis of a foreign market economy through its key dimensions and indicators
- Ratio calculation and analysis: ratio computation steps, calculations, interpretation
- Taxation in a foreign target market: tax structure of the country. Main activities/operations taxed, implications for international business operations.
- Country risk assessment: mapping financial, political, social and other risks
- Regional and Global Trade Blocks and Organizations: implications for an internationalizing SME
GLOBAL LAW SECTION
Participants will understanding the key legal steps, advantages, rights and responsibilities of the following international operation modes:
- Setting-up a foreign company
- Distribution Agreements
- Franchising Agreements
- Outsourcing Agreements
- International IP protection

Qualifications

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Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

Finnish Grade Definition Grade ECTS
5 Excellent A
4 Very good B
3 Good C
2 Satisfactory D
1 Sufficient E
0 Fail F
In special cases, a successful completion may also be marked as S (Pass).
Grades are divided into five subgroups, which are not applied (the best 10% are awarded an A-grade, the next 25% a B-grade, the following 30% a C-grade, the following 25% a D-grade and the final 10% an E-grade).