International Economics and Business: Nations and Firms in the Global Economy

Description

With a new title (following the successful first edition of Nations and Firms in the Global Economy), this second edition undergraduate textbook combines the dual perspectives of international economics and international business, providing a complete overview of the changing role of nations and firms in the global economy. International Economics and Business covers the key concepts typically included in an introductory course on the global economy, supported by contemporary case studies from the international business world. The result is a practical guide to the world economy for undergraduate students in economics and business, also suitable for students in other social science disciplines. Updated to include the latest theoretical insights, data and case studies, with online quizzes, data exercises and additional reading, International Economics and Business is a lively and engaging textbook providing a complete and practical understanding of international economics and globalization through a uniquely integrated lens.

Sjoerd Beugelsdijk is Professor of International Business and Management at the University of Groningen. Steven Brakman is Professor of International Economics at the University of Groningen. Harry Garretsen is Professor of International Economics and Business at the University of Groningen. Charles van Marrewijk is Professor of International Macroeconomics at Utrecht University School of Economics (since 2008) and Director of the Tjalling Charles Koopmans Institute (since 2009). He studied horticulture and worked as a grower before studying economics in Holland at Erasmus University Rotterdam (1981-1985, BA and MA) and in the United States at Purdue University (1985-1988, MSc and PhD). He worked at the University of Groningen (1987-1990) and at Erasmus University Rotterdam (1990-2008), where he was also Academic Director of the Institute of Housing and Urban Development Studies (2007-2008). His research focuses on international economics, geographical economics, economic growth, development economics, and urban economics. He is currently the European editor of The Journal of International Trade and Economic Development and associate editor of the Journal of Regional Science. He has organized several international conferences and served as a guest editor for various special issues of the above two journals. His research output is widely cited and has appeared in many top (field) journals, including the Journal of International Economics, the Journal of Development Economics, the Journal of Economic Geography, the International Economic Review, the Journal of Economics and Management Strategy, Oxford Economic Papers, Economica, the International Journal of Industrial Organization, the Journal of Population Economics, and the Journal of Regional Science. He has also (co-)authored ten books, eight of which were published either by Cambridge University Press or Oxford University Press (of which two were translated into Chinese).

Review of the first edition: 'This book is a remarkable achievement. It covers all the pressing international economic issues of our day in an accessible yet thorough manner. The authors adroitly combine illustrative data and essential theory to explain the hows and whys of trade and trade liberalisation, the delocation of firms and multinational activity, capital flows, currency and financial crises, and the role of international organisations such as the IMF and WTO. It is appropriate for students without an economics specialisation both at the undergraduate and non-specialists graduate level, e.g. MBA and Masters of Public Administration. The facts and real-world feel of the book make it interesting as a supplement for specialist students as well.' Richard Baldwin, Graduate Institute of International Studies, Geneva Review of the first edition: 'International trade and international business have hitherto existed in two separate worlds - a world of nations and a world of firms - in academic teaching and even in research. This book gives us a welcome integration of the two at the level of teaching. Students who use it will develop a unified vision that will benefit them in their future careers, whether in business, government, international institutions, or academic research.' Avinash K. Dixit, Princeton University 'Very few textbooks exist that examine the working of the global economy through the three lenses of international trade, international finance, and international investment. This book provides an excellent introduction to all three lenses and to the linkages among them. The authors show how macro-level forces of trade, investment and finance reflect the micro-level actions of firms and households. For students and instructors looking for a textbook that blends international economics (trade and finance) with international business (international investment and multinational enterprises), look no further. This book has it all and does it well.' Lorraine Eden, Mays Business School, Texas A and M University Review of the first edition: 'This book offers a valuable integration of the economics and business aspects of globalization. The integrated approach makes the book a unique and valuable resource for students of international economics and business studies.' Joseph Francois, J. Kepler University 'The world economy has changed more rapidly in the last twenty years than in the previous two millennia, driven by three fundamental forces: the rise of intangibles in value creation, the disaggregation of the value chain and the increasing extent of international intra-firm trade. These changes have made even the most basic measures of the international economy like GDP, imports and exports, and even balance of payments, far less meaningful. In their place we need new models that take a more holistic view of place, space and organization. This new second edition of International Economics and Business by Beugelsdijk, Brakman, Garretsen and van Marrewijk does precisely that. It will serve as a valuable resource to educate the new generation of managers and policymakers that must function in the new environment of rising complexity.' Ram Mudambi, Fox School of Business, Temple University Review of the first edition: 'Understanding the enormous changes taking place in the world economy requires the perspectives of many different disciplines, of which international economics and international business are two of the most relevant. Yet until now these two fields have interacted very little. This new text does a superb job of combining the insights of these two complementary academic fields. The authors present a lucid overview of theories of international economics, with an emphasis on recent contributions such as imperfect competition, multinational corporations, agglomeration and financial crises. In addition they present a wealth of relevant and insightful case studies from the international business literature which helps bridge the gap between theory and reality. Students in a range of courses will benefit from this integration of different approaches, and researchers who want an overview of recent work in fields outside their own will learn a lot too.' J. Peter Neary, University of Oxford Review of the first edition: 'This is a fascinating book with a practical approach to international economics that enhances our understanding of the globalisation process.' Hans-Werner Sinn, President, Ifo Institute for Economic Research, Munich 'A monumental achievement. The only international economics textbook on the market that appropriately describes the role of the firm in the global economy.' Alain Verbeke, Haskayne School of Business, University of Calgary and Solvay Business School, University of Brussels