American Business Research Articles

The Wealth Creation in Indian and American Businesses

This paper discusses the comparative analysis of wealth production and distribution by looking at the business contexts and earning functions where there are two sides consisting of earning and spending between India and the USA. This research looks at the business inquiries, wealth-centric cultural attitudes, and economic systems in both countries. The USA has skewed more toward innovation and consumer-driven economies, whereas India is more technology, manufacturing, and services-based - all of which are still driven primarily by the traditional values that are focused on long-term financial security. This study synthesizes the extant body of literature to probe how different earning strategies such as the difference between lowering costs and innovation, the spending patterns including corporate social responsibility initiatives and much more may impact the economic outcomes and societal well-being in each country. This paper will show the comparative analysis between India and the USA which will provide information that will help explain the various paths of wealth distribution and accumulation for the two countries.

Did Biden-Harris’s reforms on the Paycheck Protection Program reduce racial disparities in lending?

AbstractIntroduced under the Trump-Pence Administration, the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) provided short-term relief loans to small American businesses during the peak of the Coronavirus pandemic. The initial design of the PPP faced significant criticism from researchers due to racial disparities, among other issues, in its lending process. Minority groups received smaller PPP loan amounts during the original two tranches released in 2020. To increase equitable access for all, in February 2021 the Biden-Harris Administration enforced swift changes to the initial PPP aimed at favouring access to PPP loans for minority-owned small businesses that had been disadvantaged by the program’s original design under the Trump-Pence Administration. By exploiting a granular dataset of 1,759,270 PPP loans granted between Q2 2020 and Q2 2021 and by implementing a difference-in-differences approach (DID), this paper provides novel evidence on the effectiveness of the Biden reforms in reducing racial disparities within the Paycheck Protection Program. Indeed, we observe a significant increase in the volume of PPP loans granted to minority-owned businesses in the period following the Biden-Harris Administration’s reforms. Furthermore, among different minority groups, the reforms appear most effective for Native American minority groups (including American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians and/or Other Pacific Islanders), followed by Black Americans and Asian business owners. Our findings offer novel contributions to the existing literature on institutional discrimination, particularly regarding the initial PPP design. Our findings are especially valuable for policy makers as they underscore the importance of radical changes in addressing racial disparities. Our paper also offers evidence of how a public credit guarantee program should be designed to empower and promote economic inclusion for all, regardless of ethnicity, aligning with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

Polyvocality as a communicative strategy in Korean–Black business interactions

ABSTRACT This research analyzes and explains the use of multiple voices in a beauty supply store as an intercultural communication process that plays a particular role in adjusting the participants’ relationships. This study explores the alternation of language between the Korean American business owner and his Black neighbors to meet the following research objectives: (a) to examine how a store owner uses polyvocality to mitigate tension, (b) to investigate how his interlocutors react to his shift in language, and (c) to explore how the voicing of these “figures of personhood” represents the negotiation of their relationships. I argue that the participants in these particular intercultural interactions employ various discursive strategies to build rapport and avoid conflicts. However, despite their long-term and personal relationships and the application of multiple voices, sources of conflict such as racial hierarchy and socioeconomic disparities remain unresolved.

Constructos del agua, mercancía y valor

The work revisits certain categories within social sciences to analyze water through two primary lenses. The first lens views water as a social construct, involving various communal, social, and institutional actors. This perspective has historical roots extending back to the liberal era of the early 20th century and continues through the post-war period of 'developmentalism.' During this time, water resources were seen as a public service managed by municipalities, communities, and, following the establishment of the Sistema Nacional de Acueductos y Alcantarillados (SNAA, known as AyA) in 1961, by a centralized state institution. Secondly, the study examines the transition of water from a 'use value' (satisfying a need) to an 'exchange value.' This analysis employs the concept of 'elasticity' of the commodity, representing a kind of expansive long wave embedded in the international political debates of the sixties and seventies. These debates involved various social movements and American business elites, who perceived the concept of 'free enterprise' as under threat. This resulted in 'authoritarian liberalism,' which has had lasting effects. In the present era, a 'total market' logic prevails, where water markets, transnational corporations, and stock market pricing determine the distribution of this resource on the planet through supply and demand laws.

Biden Administration Trade Cooperation Platforms

The article examines trade policy initiatives of the Biden administration. In a complex climate of domestic political polarization, the United States compete with China and defends its position in international markets. These challenges affect the areas of high technologies, digital economy, information and communications sector, renewable energy sources, and infrastructure. At the same time, an equally important problem in the context of increased geopolitical risks remains increasing the reliability of logistics and production chains, primarily for microelectronics. Addressing these challenges requires the creation of appropriate platforms that allow the United States to interact with partner countries. Within these frameworks, the United States intends to promote the priorities of the Biden administration: standards in the field of high technologies, ensuring the energy transition, protecting working conditions and inclusion. Another crucial area is promoting the fight against corruption, ensuring transparency of business processes in partner countries and training personnel. Completing these goals should attract American business and investment to the Pacific and Indian Ocean regions and Latin America. These should also increase American leverage in its strategic competition with China. At the same time, the formats of cooperation created by the United States must be insured against their internal political situation and the risks of interruption of work when there is a change of presidential administrations. In less than four years of its work (2021–2024), the Biden administration has proposed three platforms: the Global Infrastructure and Investment Partnership, the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity, and the Partnership of the Americas for Economic Prosperity. The results of their implementation are different. This article examines the two last mentioned regional platforms and describes conditions for their creation, work prospects, probable risks, and some results.

Rooted Globalism: Arab-Latin American Business Elites and the Politics of Global Imaginaries by Kevin Funk (review)

Rooted Globalism: Arab-Latin American Business Elites and the Politics of Global Imaginaries by Kevin Funk (review)

Community and Commerce

“‘Where Do We Go from Here?’: Histories of Long-term Black Business Ownership, Community, and Family in Los Angeles County” is an oral history project of African American business owners conducted by the UCLA Center for Oral History Research. This report describes the design and implementation of the project, the challenges of outreach, and the ways in which narrators participated and negotiated their own agendas and investments in the project. It also argues for the importance of business oral history as a means of documenting African American community and social history. As this project shows, business oral histories can record the daily particulars of small business’s operations and the challenges business owners face, offer insight into the legacy of African American multi-generational businesses, demonstrate the on-going impact of racism and segregation on Black-owned businesses, and give evidence of how Black business owners conceive their relationship and responsibilities to the African American community.

Resilience in supply chains: How technology is helping USA companies navigate disruptions

In recent years, supply chain resilience has emerged as a critical focus for companies worldwide, particularly in the USA, as they face increasing disruptions from various sources such as natural disasters, geopolitical tensions, and pandemics. This review paper explores how technological advancements are equipping American businesses with the tools needed to enhance the robustness and flexibility of their supply chains. Key technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), blockchain, the Internet of Things (IoT), and advanced analytics are examined for their roles in predicting disruptions, optimizing operations, and facilitating swift responses to unforeseen challenges. The paper also highlights case studies of prominent USA companies that have successfully implemented these technologies to mitigate risks and maintain operational continuity. By analyzing current trends and future prospects, this review emphasizes the importance of continuous innovation and adaptation in achieving supply chain resilience, providing valuable insights for industry stakeholders aiming to fortify their supply chains against future disruptions.

The “mythologies” of women at work, interrupted: feminist origins antenarratives from Harvard Business Review and Western University’s The Quarterly, Part I

Purpose The author aims to walk beside the singular privileged class of White women’s suffrage feminist origin story to (re)construct plausible feminist fragmented threads as antenarratives in the context of business management education. To accomplish this (re)assembling of threads, the author examined two North American business trade publications created and used within two business schools, Harvard University’s Harvard Business Review (HBR), established in 1922, and Western University’s The Quarterly Review of Commerce (The Quarterly), established in 1933. Design/methodology/approach The author carefully reviewed almost 4,000 articles from HBR and The Quarterly, focusing on 308 articles that addressed the experiences of complex women. With this subset of collected articles, the author highlighted overlooked details, accidents and errors, generating interest and curiosity about the emergence of these fragmented and paradoxical origins that align with Foucault's histories of errors. By grouping these narrative fragments into themes and conducting a critical discourse analysis that incorporated influences from the external environment, the author reconstructed plural feminist origins antenarratives. Findings The themes discovered, including women as consumers, explicit working women concerns, women as authors/coauthors, diversity and social justice initiatives, and women in higher education/training, are not merely descriptive observations. They are the building blocks for identifying and analyzing the power relations circulating among feminist origins antenarratives within management education circles. These antenarratives include shedding light on women working in capitalist contexts, the educational needs of business women, and men and naming (but not breaking) the “mythologies” of women at work. These findings are transformative to the understanding of plural feminist origins. Originality/value The uniqueness of this work lies in its threefold contributions: moving away from the notion of a singular feminist origin story and instead embracing the complexity of multiple, paradoxical and incomplete origins; shedding light on the spectrum of power relations – ranging from productive to oppressive – that shaped the experiences of women in two management educational circles during the first half of the 20th century; and introducing the concept of inflection points, which underscores the fluidity of knowledge.

Why Do Some Conservative CEOs Publicly Support Liberal Causes? Organizational Ideology, Managerial Discretion, and CEO Sociopolitical Activism

The phenomenon of chief executive officers (CEOs) speaking out on contested social issues is a recent one, as CEO sociopolitical activism was seen as overly risky, and even taboo, for most of American business history. Yet, CEOs are increasingly choosing sides in societal debates despite the inherent risk of alienating stakeholders who disagree with the CEO’s stance. Even more puzzlingly, conservative CEOs sometimes espouse liberal stances in such debates, which runs counter to the otherwise consistent evidence in the upper echelons literature that CEOs are guided by their own values in their actions. Our study addresses this paradox by examining the antecedents of CEO liberal activism, with an emphasis on the interplay between the CEO’s ideology and the prevailing ideological tilt of the employee population in driving CEOs’ activism decisions. Drawing on the concept of managerial discretion, or latitude of action, we theorize that a pronounced organizational ideology constrains a CEO’s ability to act in accordance with their own values—particularly in the highly symbolic domain of activism. We also argue that conservative CEOs are relatively more focused on instrumental rationales for activism, whereas liberal CEOs tend to prioritize more intrinsic rationales, a consequence of which is that conservative CEOs more heavily weight organizational ideology in their activism decisions. We test our theory in the context of a highly publicized letter signed by nearly 100 CEOs of public companies in opposition to North Carolina’s controversial 2016 “bathroom bill.” Relying on a variety of novel data sources, we find robust support for our theory. Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/orsc.2022.17160 .

Article: The US CHIPS Act and Its Impacts on the WTO and China

In 2022 the US enacted the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) Act, providing USD 52.7 billion in subsidies to enhance the chip manufacturing capacity of the US semiconductor industry, attract American businesses back and encourage foreign investments. The CHIPS Act utilizes subsidies as a countermeasure against foreign subsidies in order to secure US leadership of the global semiconductor industry and advanced technology. This represents a significant policy change for the US semiconductor industry. The Act includes a guardrail clause aimed at restricting the investment in or export of advanced chips to China and this may potentially result in the fragmentation of the global chip value chain and in heightened geopolitical tensions. This paper discusses the objectives, subsidies, guardrail clause and clawback mechanism in the CHIPS Act, and their legality under the WTO. It also explores the impact of the CHIPS Act on the WTO and China. The US CHIPS Act is a politically sensitive issue of economic importance and legal complexity in the US-China relationship. It will also reshape the geopolitics of the global chip value chain. Subsidy poses a challenge for the WTO, and a more effective discipline on both subsidies and export restrictions should be an urgent need in a future WTO reform agenda.

The rise of intelligent procurement: Embracing AI and data analytics for crossfunctional synergy

This paper delves into the transformative role of procurement in modern corporate structures, especially in North American businesses, highlighting its evolution from a transactional function to a strategic asset within organisations. The core aim is to explore how technological advancements, particularly in data analytics and cognitive artificial intelligence (AI), are redefining procurement’s role, facilitating cross-functional collaboration and driving innovative practices. The scope of this paper encompasses the historical perspective of procurement’s underestimated strategic potential, its current integration into various organisational facets and the profound impact of AI and data analytics in enhancing procurement’s efficacy and strategic value. Readers can expect to gain a comprehensive understanding of the strategic transformation of procurement, particularly how it has moved beyond traditional cost management to become a central player in innovation, risk management and sustainability efforts. The paper provides insights into the practical applications of data analytics and AI in procurement, showcasing how these technologies enable predictive decision making, enhance supplier relationship management and contribute to effective risk assessments and budget forecasting. The paper also underscores procurement’s growing influence in strategic decision making and its critical role in fostering cross-functional partnerships. Readers will also learn about the increasing importance of trust and ethical practices in procurement, reinforcing their position as a vital component of organisational success. Ultimately, the reader will be equipped with the essential knowledge to understand the evolving landscape of procurement, its strategic implications and the potential of AI and data analytics in shaping future procurement practices.

Embracing Survivalist Entrepreneurship: How African American Men Leverage Business Ownership out of Economic Necessity

There has been extensive research and examination dedicated to the advantages and disadvantages of entrepreneurship, both in general and specifically for African Americans. Significant research has been devoted to understanding the economic outcomes of African American men, and there is an area of opportunity to study how African American men, specifically, can leverage entrepreneurship to increase the probability of successful economic outcomes for themselves and their families. Entrepreneurial research has the potential to be leveraged to combat waning labor force participation rates and heightened unemployment rates among African American men. Leveraging the theories of Trust, Goal-Orientation, Logotherapy, and Social Identity Theory, a study was conducted among United States-based business owners. The sample size was forty-one African American male business owners. The results demonstrate how these African American men have leveraged entrepreneurship to build social capital and wealth, while improving their standard of living, as well as highlight the hurdles and barriers they have endured during the process of business ownership. The majority of African American owned business are owned by African American men, and this study provides insights into the phenomenology of African American male entrepreneurs.

Businesswomen’s Persuasive Language in Vietnamese and American English Negotiation Conversations: A Case Study

The current study is investigating the different persuasive language in negotiations between Vietnamese and American business women in business and media contexts. With descriptive and mixed method, the data recorded from 10 negotiating conversations in Shark Tank Vietnam and Shark Tank US – a real TV program were transcribed and analyzed under Aristotle’s modes of persuasion, in the assistance of SPSS analysis tool to reveal the different strategic tactics by female sharks (known as investors) in 2 programs and the various combination of sub-type appeals (logos, pathos, and ethos) in each speech in Shark Tank Vietnam and US. The findings significantly contributed to the differences of female communication style at work in two nations.

Naomi Oreskes and Erik M. Conway. The Big Myth: How American Business Taught Us to Loathe Government and Love the Free Market

Naomi Oreskes and Erik M. Conway. The Big Myth: How American Business Taught Us to Loathe Government and Love the Free Market

Measurement of sustainable attitudes: a scale for business students

Purpose This study aims to present the development and validation of a scale to measure the attitudes of Latin American business students toward sustainable management practices in the economic, social and environmental dimensions. Design/methodology/approach Using a nonprobabilistic sample, the appreciation for sustainable practices in students (ASP-S) scale was administered to a total of 653 undergraduate and graduate business students in Argentina, Colombia, Mexico and Peru. A range of psychometric validity (construct, convergent and discriminant) and reliability criteria were applied. Findings Construct, convergent and discriminant validity was obtained from the ASP-S scale across all samples. During the internal validation process, two factors were found: systemic consciousness (ten items) and sustainable business leadership (nine items), both of which obtained acceptable reliability indices. The resulting structure is equivalent in all four countries. Originality/value The instrument can be applied by educators and learning assurance areas to diagnose and measure the effectiveness of pedagogical strategies used in sustainability courses taught at Latin American business schools. As a result, it has applications for curriculum design. As a valid and reliable instrument set in the context of regional business praxis, it can promote an understanding of sustainable behaviors and practices in future Latin American leaders.

Embracing AI with Integrity: Recommendations for Authors and Reviewers at American Business Review

As Editors of the American Business Review (ABR), we are navigating a complex landscape as the rapid integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into academic research unfolds. This digital transformation era offers remarkable opportunities yet poses significant challenges, particularly in educational contexts. As teachers, we've all observed a surge in AI usage among students where outputs often appear coherent initially but may lack depth or relevance to the class content. Many of these instances underscore critical aspects of AI, such as the "black box" problem, where the decision-making processes of AI systems are opaque, making it difficult for users to understand how conclusions are drawn.

Components of Mid-Nineteenth- and Mid-Twentieth-Century Cudbears

Analysis of purple dyestuff from a tin labeled “1 oz. Cudbear, No. 1 N. F. Powdered”, marketed by the American business S. B. Penick & Company, “Manufacturers of fine drugs and chemicals”, confirmed that the material was indeed a lichen dyestuff. It contains the same major orcein components identified in several other lichen dyes and dyed samples dating from the mid-19th century to today. These dyestuffs were analyzed using several analytical techniques. Fluorescence and fiber optic reflectance spectroscopic data for all the samples were similar. High performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection coupled to mass spectrometry confirmed that this commercial American cudbear was very similar to the samples from the United Kingdom but rather different from the archil-dyed reference yarns from Europe. The significance of the observations is discussed, and chemical structures are proposed for several of the unknown dye components detected in this study.

GDPR's impact on cybersecurity: A review focusing on USA and European practices

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) has emerged as a landmark legislation reshaping the global landscape of data privacy and cybersecurity. Enforced in May 2018, the GDPR has had a profound impact on organizations worldwide, prompting a reevaluation of cybersecurity practices to ensure compliance with stringent data protection standards. This paper provides a comprehensive review of GDPR's influence on cybersecurity, with a particular emphasis on the contrasting approaches and practices adopted in the United States (USA) and Europe. The GDPR introduces a set of robust principles designed to protect the rights and privacy of individuals, emphasizing the need for transparency, accountability, and proactive measures to safeguard personal data. Its extraterritorial scope extends its impact beyond European borders, compelling businesses operating globally to adhere to its regulations. This paper explores the challenges and opportunities arising from GDPR compliance, examining how organizations in the USA and Europe have navigated the evolving cybersecurity landscape. In the USA, where privacy regulations historically differed across states, the GDPR has prompted discussions around the development of federal privacy laws. The review delves into the varying approaches adopted by American businesses, considering the interplay between state and federal regulations in shaping cybersecurity strategies. Conversely, European practices reflect a proactive response to the GDPR, as organizations have embraced the principles embedded in the regulation to fortify cybersecurity frameworks. The paper investigates the evolution of cybersecurity standards in Europe, highlighting successful strategies and potential areas for improvement. By synthesizing experiences from both sides of the Atlantic, this review contributes to a deeper understanding of the GDPR's impact on cybersecurity. It sheds light on the evolving dynamics of data protection, offering insights for organizations seeking to enhance their cybersecurity resilience in the face of a rapidly changing regulatory landscape.

Digital transformation in business development: A comparative review of USA and Africa

This comparative review explores the dynamics of digital transformation in business development, drawing parallels between the United States (USA) and various countries in Africa. Digital transformation, characterized by the integration of digital technologies into all aspects of business operations, is a global phenomenon with unique manifestations in diverse economic landscapes. The study delves into the distinct approaches and challenges faced by businesses in the USA and Africa as they navigate the complex terrain of digital transformation. In the USA, a mature and technologically advanced market, businesses have embraced digital transformation as a strategic imperative. The review analyzes the adoption of cutting-edge technologies, such as artificial intelligence, data analytics, and cloud computing, and their impact on enhancing operational efficiency, customer experiences, and overall competitiveness. Case studies and success stories from American businesses provide insights into best practices and lessons learned in the realm of digital business development. Contrastingly, the review examines the digital transformation landscape in various African countries, acknowledging the diversity of economic contexts and technological infrastructures. It explores the challenges faced by African businesses, including limited access to digital infrastructure, the digital skills gap, and regulatory complexities. Case studies from African businesses showcase innovative strategies employed to overcome these challenges, highlighting the resilience and adaptability of entrepreneurs on the continent. The comparative analysis sheds light on the similarities and differences in the pace and nature of digital transformation between the USA and Africa. By understanding the unique challenges and opportunities in each context, businesses, policymakers, and researchers can derive valuable insights to inform strategies for fostering digital business development. Ultimately, the review advocates for a nuanced and context-specific approach to digital transformation, recognizing that successful strategies must be tailored to the distinctive characteristics of each economic landscape.