We sought to characterize the involvement of US tobacco companies in the global food industry, where they disseminated ultraprocessed and hyper-palatable foods, and the methods they used to expand globally. We reviewed and extracted data from 113 primary source industry documents. US tobacco companies developed billion-dollar food businesses that were prominent internationally between the 1980s and mid-2000s. Tobacco companies developed their international food businesses with the same strategies they used to establish their international tobacco businesses. Our findings suggest that US tobacco companies used their extensive experiences from their tobacco businesses to maximize the successes of their international food businesses in disseminating ultra-processed foods globally. Regulation of the multiple addictive products that tobacco companies have disseminated to markets globally may be needed to protect public health. (Am J Public Health. 2026;116(7):921-931. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2026.308501).

Abstract Media has emerged as a powerful yet under-theorized force shaping the nonmarket environments of multinationals (MNEs), particularly amid intensifying geopolitical tensions and ideological polarization. Drawing on mass communication theory, we conceptualize media, encompassing both institutional news media and social media platforms, as a distinct nonmarket influencer that actively constructs legitimacy, propagates geopolitical narratives, and accelerates public sentiment across borders. We develop a framework that explicates the pathways through which media reconfigures nonmarket influences facing MNEs, including legitimacy arbitration, geopolitical narrative, sentiment cascades, and shaping liabilities of foreignness and origin across interconnected home, host, and global arenas. We advance media literacy as a form of corporate soft power that enables MNEs to sense media-driven threats, seize narrative opportunities, and reconfigure communication structures as part of an integrated nonmarket strategy and corporate diplomacy. By repositioning media as a constitutive force rather than a peripheral communication channel, we present a foundation for understanding how MNEs develop their capacity to anticipate media-driven risks, manage legitimacy across borders, and adapt nonmarket strategies under geopolitical and ideological uncertainty.

This article analyzes the strategic opportunities for the development of MICE tourism in remote regions of Uzbekistan. MICE tourism is considered one of the key factors of economic growth on a global scale. Uzbekistan, with its rich cultural heritage, geographical location, and hospitality, has the potential to become an active participant in this sector. The article examines the natural and geographical advantages of remote regions and proposes infrastructural and digital models necessary for organizing international business events. In addition, the socioeconomic effectiveness of developing MICE tourism is substantiated in terms of eliminating seasonality problems in the regions and ensuring employment for the local population.

Efficient and sustainable wastewater treatment increasingly depends on microbial consortia capable of simultaneous nutrient removal and biomass recovery. However, conventional systems often suffer from slow microbial aggregation, poor settling characteristics, and limited operational stability, which reduce overall efficiency. To address these limitations, this research investigates the influence of engineered surface hydrophobicity of porous biochar carriers on algae-bacteria granulation in a Sequential Batch Reactor (SBR). Porous biochar derived from agricultural biomass was modified to enhance surface hydrophobicity, thereby improving microbial adhesion and interfacial interactions between microalgae and activated sludge (AS). Selected microalgal species, including Chlorella vulgaris, Scenedesmus obliquus, Nannochloropsis oculata, Phormidium sp., and Arthrospira platensis, were co-cultivated to establish stable algal-bacterial symbiosis. Surface characterization was performed using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and contact angle measurements, confirming improved surface morphology and hydrophobic properties. It was conducted over 45 days, including granule formation (30-35 days) and maturation phases. The process enhanced Extracellular Polymeric Substance (EPS) production, facilitating rapid granulation and biomass retention. Statistical validation and modeling were performed using International Business Machines Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (IBM SPSS) to ensure data reliability. The system achieved 73.3% Total Nitrogen (TN) removal, 72.5% phosphorus removal, and 77.4% Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) reduction. Biomass increased from 850 mg/L to 5100 mg/L, with rapid nitrate removal and improved settling velocity (VS) (5.2 m/h). One-way ANOVA assessed group differences in performance (p < 0.05). In conclusion, hydrophobic biochar-mediated algae-bacteria granulation provides a scalable and eco-friendly solution for enhanced wastewater treatment performance.

Purpose This study aims to develop a new theoretical framework to explain how geopolitical disintegration in the Middle East and Red Sea region generates transregional shocks that disrupt multinational enterprises (MNEs) and how artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities enhance firm-level strategic resilience. Design/methodology/approach This study introduces the transregional shock transmission (TST) theory and uses a multi-method quantitative design. It integrates panel data from 75 MNEs in the logistics, energy and shipping sectors with event-based conflict data and machine-coded news sentiment analysis for 2013–2024. A moderated mediation model is tested using structural equation modeling to examine the relationships between geopolitical instability, risk perception, strategic adaptation and AI capabilities. Findings Firms with advanced AI-driven risk intelligence systems demonstrate significantly higher resilience to geopolitical shocks. These firms adapt supply chains more rapidly, mitigate financial losses and restore operations more efficiently. AI capability moderates the adverse effects of geopolitical disintegration by enhancing real-time risk perception and adaptive decision-making. Research limitations/implications This study is limited by its cross-sectional design and reliance on self-reported data, which may constrain causal inference and introduce bias. Although the sample is diverse, generalizability remains limited. Future research should adopt longitudinal and multi-source approaches and further validate emerging constructs to deepen the understanding of leadership and ethical accountability in AI-mediated contexts. Practical implications Theoretically, this study extends crisis internationalization and geopolitical risk research by positioning AI as a dynamic capability shaping firm responses to regional instability. Practically, the findings suggest that MNEs should: invest in AI-enabled early warning and predictive analytics systems; integrate geopolitical risk metrics into strategic planning; decentralize critical supply chain nodes; and shift from reactive to proactive resilience models in fragile environments. Originality/value This paper advances a novel conceptual model, TST theory, that explains how localized political instability translates into global business disruption. By highlighting the strategic role of AI in navigating transregional shocks, it offers new insights into adaptive international business strategy amid escalating geopolitical fragmentation.

ABSTRACT The current complex international economic environment poses significant challenges to corporate exports, making it crucial to enhance firms’ export resilience amid external shocks. While extensive research has examined corporate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) engagement, the relationship between ESG practices and export resilience remains underexplored, particularly regarding the moderating role of government subsidies. To address this gap, this study uses data from Chinese listed firms to investigate how ESG performance improves export resilience and how government subsidies shape this relationship. Our findings show that strong ESG performance significantly strengthens export resilience by easing financial constraints, fostering innovation, and enhancing corporate reputation. Each ESG dimension independently contributes to export resilience, highlighting the multifaceted nature of sustainability-driven advantages. Heterogeneity analyses reveal that the effects are more pronounced among state-owned enterprises (SOEs), non-labour-intensive firms, and high-tech companies. Importantly, government subsidies amplify the positive link between ESG and export resilience, with this moderating effect consistently observed across all ESG dimensions. These results underscore the critical role of fiscal policy in leveraging ESG for trade stability. The study advances theoretical understanding of sustainability-performance linkages in international business and offers practical insights for policymakers designing ESG-aligned industrial support to enhance export competitiveness.

Against the backdrop of the Belt and Road Initiative, international business students in China encounter prominent obstacles in general accounting learning, including insufficient prior professional knowledge, dual language and cultural barriers, and rigid localized teaching resources, which greatly reduce their learning effectiveness and cross-border business adaptation. Targeting the teaching dilemmas of non-accounting international students, this study adopts literature review and case study to explore the application mechanism of generative AI in accounting case teaching. It constructs a closed-loop pre-class, in-class and after-class AI-empowered teaching model and proposes practical optimization paths regarding case resource development, whole-process teaching implementation and supporting guarantee systems. The findings indicate that generative AI can effectively reduce cognitive load, eliminate cross-cultural learning barriers and realize personalized contextual teaching. This research fills the existing pedagogical gap, facilitates the digital transformation of international accounting education, and provides practical references for cultivating high-quality cross-border business talents for the Belt and Road Initiative.

Arbitration is a widely used mechanism for resolving legal disputes in the context of international business. However, mandatory arbitration, which compels one party to resolve legal disputes through arbitration instead of the court, has become controversial due to its potential impact on individuals in a weaker bargaining position. This procedure effectively prevents one side from taking the other to court and raises concerns about the conflict with human rights principles providing access to court, due process, and the right to a fair trial. This study seeks to thoroughly scrutinise the concerns raised at the juncture where human rights and mandatory arbitration meet. The study focuses on how mandatory arbitration operates in various areas of law, namely sports, employment, and consumer law. The main aim of this research is to examine how people are being compelled to relinquish their entitlement to a just and fair trial and, as a result, whether this binding proposition of mandatory arbitration is an efficient approach for resolution of dispute.

The logistics and supply chain industry plays a major role in supporting global trade and international business operations. Freight forwarding companies act as intermediaries between exporters, importers, shipping lines, airlines, customs authorities, and transport operators to ensure the smooth movement of cargo across countries. This study focuses on ocean and air shipment operations in Freyer International Logistics, Bangalore. The objective of the study is to analyze the shipment procedures, documentation process, operational efficiency, challenges, and customer service involved in both ocean and air freight transportation.The research adopts a descriptive methodology using both primary and secondary data. Primary data was collected through discussions with employees and operational observations, while secondary data was collected from company records, logistics journals, websites, and industry reports. The study highlights the advantages and limitations of ocean and air transportation and evaluates their impact on delivery time, cost efficiency, cargo handling, and customer satisfaction.The findings reveal that ocean freight is economical and suitable for bulk cargo, whereas air freight provides faster delivery for time-sensitive goods. The study concludes that efficient coordination, advanced tracking systems, proper documentation, and customer relationship management are essential for successful freight forwarding operations. Keywords: Ocean Shipment, Air Shipment, Freight Forwarding, Logistics Management, Supply Chain, Import and Export, Freight Operations.

Purpose This paper aims to examine the impact of international business (IB) activities on environmental quality using a country-level data set from 1990 to 2023. Design/methodology/approach This study first uses generalized method of moment (GMM) controlling for unobservable factors to estimate the impact of IB activities on environmental issues (CO2 and greenhouse gas emission) on a panel data set of 4,250 observations. Furthermore, using moderating models, this study examines how environmental impact of IB is influenced by governance such as environmental tax rates and regulation levels. Findings The authors’ analysis confirms that increased IB activities are associated with higher emissions, which are mitigated during the COVID-19 pandemic. More importantly, when environmental tax rates increase or regulations are stronger, more IB activities lead to less emissions, which confirms pollution haven hypothesis. Research limitations/implications These findings highlight the importance of robust governance frameworks in mitigating the adverse environmental impacts of cross-border business, suggesting that targeted policies can help balance the benefits of IB activities with environmental sustainability objectives to achieve both SDG 8 (Economic growth) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). Originality/value This research offers a significant contribution by integrating moderation analysis with GMM estimation to explore how governance factors, such as environmental tax rates and regulation, condition the environmental impact of IB.

Purpose This paper aims to investigate and analyze four well-established grain and commodity multinational corporations (MNCs), commonly known as the ABCD (Archer Daniels Midland/ADM, Bunge, Cargill and Dreyfus). The four firms play a major role in international business (IB) and global agriculture. Design/methodology/approach By using a case-based research approach and literature-specific discussion, we systematically compare the four MNCs and their evolutionary growth and internationalization in world markets. Findings Findings of the paper reveal that this well-established oligopoly distinctly controls over 70 % of commodity and grain markets and remains to be staunchly competitive regarding logistical networks, international operations and foreign direct investment (FDI). Research limitations/implications The paper mostly relied on case-based approach and secondary data that is useful in IB and related areas. Practical implications The paper provides useful implications and future research directions that at present need additional studies and investigations. Social implications Today’s ABCD firms maintain distinct competitive advantage and operate worldwide and have a strong impact on local and national economies. Originality/value The paper is a timely investigation of a phenomenon that remains to be important in commodities and international agriculture.

The prevailing narrative in international business research has long positioned Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) as structurally disadvantaged actors in global trade—constrained by the dual liabilities of smallness and foreignness and largely dependent on gradual, resource-intensive market entry strategies. This systematic literature review challenges the adequacy of that framing in the Asian context. Drawing on 60 peer-reviewed sources published between 2018 and 2026, and adhering to PRISMA guidelines, we argue that a synergistic digital ecosystem—comprising cross-border e-commerce (CBEC) infrastructure, influencer marketing, user-generated content (UGC), and human-mediated personal shopper networks—has fundamentally restructured the internationalization calculus for MSMEs across the region. These four drivers do not operate independently; they form a co-evolving network in which each mechanism amplifies the signal and mitigates the risk posed by the others. E-commerce platforms expand market reach and improve supply chain performance; influencers and UGC build consumer trust and brand credibility; personal shoppers bridge cultural and cross-border gaps with personalized service and embedded social intelligence. Critically, we identify a structural divergence between two dominant regional models: China’s high-tech, AI-driven paradigm—characterized by super-app ecosystems, virtual influencers, and algorithmic personalization—and Southeast Asia’s high-touch model, which privileges authenticity, community trust, and human mediation. Both pathways achieve international reach, but they do so by leveraging fundamentally different types of capital. This review also engages seriously with the dark side of digital transformation: platform dependency, algorithmic opacity, the unmeasurable influence of ‘dark social’ channels, structural digital literacy deficits, influencer scandals, and frugal innovation as a counter-strategy. These are not peripheral concerns—they are systemic vulnerabilities that constrain the sustainability of digitally driven internationalization. The paper concludes with a research agenda oriented toward Industry 5.0 frameworks, AI ethics, and longitudinal methodologies capable of capturing the long arc of digital resilience.

ABSTRACT This study reinterprets market discipline within European economic governance as a neoliberal idea and rhetorical tool rather than merely a mechanism for constraining national fiscal policies. It examines how market discipline is employed in discussions surrounding the eurozone’s economic challenges before, during, and after the euro crisis, drawing on literature about neoliberal resilience and the rhetorical function of ideas in policymaking. Analyzing speeches from European monetary authorities and international business journalism reveals that market discipline is repeatedly proposed as a solution to governance issues, despite ongoing doubts about its effectiveness. A key contradiction arises as monetary authorities recognize the limitations of market-based governance to justify policy interventions during the euro crisis while continuing to endorse the market’s disciplinary power in other contexts. These findings suggest that economic ideas serve as a rhetorical smokescreen, allowing actors to project adherence to neoliberal principles even when their actions contradict those beliefs.

This study investigates the function of middle managers in subsidiaries of foreign multinational firms within the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Utilizing agency theory, the resource-based approach, and institutional theory, we investigate the impact of strategic involvement, decision-making autonomy, and cultural intelligence on subsidiary performance, as well as the moderating effects of geographic and national cultural distance on these relationships. Data were gathered through a standardized survey administered to 404 middle managers in several businesses. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis reveals robust evidence for all proposed relationships: each managerial capability significantly enhances internationalization success, with these impacts intensified in geographically and culturally distant environments. The results show how important middle managers are to the company’s strategy by connecting headquarters and subsidiaries, adapting strategies to local conditions, and using their cross-cultural skills. This study aids to the body of knowledge on international business by combining managerial skills with contextual distance variables and focusing on the MENA region, which hasn’t been studied enough cultural intelligence is important for making multinational companies work better in difficult and faraway places, as shown by their real-world effects.

Purpose Generation Z expresses strong views on ethical corporate behaviour and the environment; they claim to prefer interesting jobs and company corporate social responsibility practices over big earnings. Therefore, it is important to explore how these views impact their intentions, decisions and behaviours related to work and employment. The purpose of this study is to understand how the perceptions of the information about corporate social responsibility practices provided in company vacancy descriptions impact the intentions of generation Z job seekers to apply for the advertised positions. Design/methodology/approach The sample included 257 university students completing an undergraduate program in international business. The authors manipulated a real-life vacancy description for an assistant manager of a large well-known company by creating three versions of the advertisement with different amounts of information about corporate social responsibility practices. The respondents were asked to randomly and blindly select one version and complete an online survey, which consisted of three scales. Findings Perceptions of the amount of information about corporate social responsibility practices given in a vacancy description positively affected the respondents’ corporate identification, which, in turn, positively impacted their organizational attraction towards the company. Also, the organizational attraction positively influenced their intentions to apply for the position. However, there was no statistically significant direct effect of the amount of information about the practices on their intentions to apply for the position. Research limitations/implications This research surveyed students majoring in international business, so the results may differ if a similar study includes participants in other fields, for example, agriculture, medicine, law or IT. Using other research methods, such as phenomenology or case-study, researchers could explore to what extent and how student job seekers use proactive behaviours to find organizations that match their values using job portals or any other channels. The study is limited to undergraduate students, so future research could explore the importance of corporate social responsibility practices for recruitment of graduate students. Practical implications All stakeholders, including company recruitment decision-makers, job search portals, independent employment agencies, career advisors and university administration and faculty could use the results of this study to adjust their practices related to the integration of generation Z job seekers into the workforce. These stakeholders should strengthen their partnerships and approach graduate employment as a match not only of competencies but also of values. Originality/value The authors provide empirical support to earlier suggestions that corporate social responsibility views impact career-related intentions of generation Z job seekers and that a perceived fit with the organization plays a decisive role in their attraction to the organization. The study results demonstrate how generation Z job seekers make decisions about a potential employer: information about corporate social responsibility practices signal to them that the company values match their own, which impacts their decision to apply. Also, this study shows that corporate identification and organizational attraction play a pivotal role in this process.

ABSTRACT This study examines the individual-level consumption patterns of Gen Y consumers from the U.S. Germany, and China by analyzing their decision-making styles and intentions to participate in daily deal sites. We collected data from 1,454 respondents and applied multiple-regression analysis. The results reveal similarities in the use of novelty-fashion, price-conscious, recreational, and impulsive decision-making styles. However, there are differences in the perfectionistic, brand-conscious, habitual, and confused-by-overchoice decision-making styles. These findings suggest the presence of a global consumer culture among Gen Y consumers. Additionally, we discuss the significance and implications of these results for marketing and international business strategies.

The article presents a comprehensive analysis of modern approaches to scaling the business of equipment manufacturers and entering new markets in the context of the global digital transformation of the economy. The study is based on the systematization of scientific publications devoted to the internationalization of industrial companies, platform3based interaction models, digitalization of trade, and organizational mechanisms of international expansion. The paper examines changes in the logic of scaling associated with the transition from linear export growth to network3 based coordination forms built on partner ecosystems and reproducible digital processes. Particular attention is paid to the role of digital services, interaction standardization, and distributed sales channels that reduce transaction costs and enable scaling without proportional growth of resources. Barriers to companies’ transition to export activity are analyzed and interpreted as a filtration mechanism selecting firms according to their level of organizational maturity and ability to coordinate international operations. The study demonstrates that sustainable international scaling emerges through the synchronization of digital capabilities, managerial structures, and partnership networks ensuring business adaptability across different institutional environments. Scaling is considered an integrative process in which technological, organizational, and network factors form a unified architecture of international growth for equipment manufacturers. The article will be useful for researchers in international business and the digital economy, as well as specialists in industrial management, strategic development, and international marketing of technological products.

A significant concept of good corporate governance in the contemporary international business environment is diversity in corporate boards. In this paper, the author will examine the legal requirements of board diversity in the leading jurisdictions in India, the U.S., the U.K., and the European Union. It follows a comparative legal research design, which is based on secondary sources including statutes, regulatory provisions, policy reports and academic literature. The results of the study show that despite the fact that the mandatory structures have been found to be helpful in increasing the representation particularly gender diversity, it is likely to face challenges such as tokenism and lack of enforcement. Consequently, voluntary and disclosure-based methods foster flexibility but could lead to slower improvement. The study also determines the key barriers including cultural barriers and structural barriers which are impediments towards meaningful inclusion. It concludes that a moderate solution with legal requirements and institutional support and cultural change is the key to sustainable diversity. Another area that is highlighted in the research is the necessity of harmonizing global diversity norms to reinforce the corporate governance practices across the world.

Purpose This study examines the relationship between corporate governance mechanisms and firms' sensitivity to exchange rate fluctuations. The primary purpose is to identify how specific board attributes and ownership structures can mitigate or exacerbate this key macro-financial risk for internationally active firms. Design/methodology/approach Using a comprehensive panel dataset of publicly listed and over-the-counter (OTC) companies in Taiwan from 2006 to 2024, we employ Feasible Generalized Least Squares regression models to capture the longitudinal relationship between governance variables (including board size, board ownership, and controlling shareholder ownership) and foreign exchange exposure. To address potential endogeneity concerns, we implement an Instrumental Variable approach using leave-one-out industry-year averages. Furthermore, we utilize one-year lagged governance variables to confirm the robustness of our baseline estimations. Findings We find that firms with larger boards are more exposed to currency risk, consistent with the hypothesis that coordination inefficiencies can impede timely risk-management decisions. In contrast, greater ownership concentration by board members and controlling shareholders significantly reduces exchange rate exposure, suggesting that enhanced managerial accountability improves risk oversight. Originality/value This paper contributes to the literature by providing a long-panel analysis of the governance-risk nexus in an emerging market context. The findings offer valuable insights for executives and board members, highlighting the strategic value of tailoring governance structures to a firm's international business scope and sectoral characteristics. The study underscores the critical role of governance design in navigating external macro-financial risks and mitigating corporate vulnerability to exchange rate volatility.

The rapid development of the economy impacts environmental degradation, where climate change is the major issue. Despite all efforts of international organisations, governments, businesses, and ordinary citizens, the problem cannot be successfully managed. The main objective of the study was to test the relationship between CO₂ and economic growth and two other indicators. In addition, the share of renewable energy and energy efficiency level indicators was included to testing environmental investments in the energy sector. The study used a sample of 23 EU member states over the period 2009-2023. Data were obtained from Eurostat and normalised using the mean-standardisation approach. Regression analysis was used to examine the relationships among the selected variables. The regression analysis confirmed that GDP and renewable energy consumption had positive effects on CO₂ emissions, whereas energy intensity had no statistically significant effect. To more deeply reveal regional structural development tendencies, the chosen sample was categorized into three groups using K-means clustering. Despite efforts to delink economic growth from CO₂ emissions, the findings indicate that this objective has not yet been achieved. The study emphasised the need for stronger political commitment and more effective strategies to achieve meaningful progress in the emission-growth delinking process. The analysis covered a specific period and the ceteris paribus assumption may not hold fully due to the presence of other factors. Further examination of additional explanatory factors may also provide new insights and policy implications.