International Market Research Articles

A sovereign grant and a franchised state: Tin mineral supply chains in south Kivu of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo

In resource extraction regions, nation-states tend to be depicted as the legal authority sanctioning profitable mining operations in close collaboration with corporate actors in their domestic territories. Especially in post-colonial contexts, corporate sovereignty is the term deployed by anthropologists to depict the acts of power by legally sanctioned corporate actors within a space of negotiation authorised by the state. A problem arises with this framing of sovereignty in contexts where the international norms of liberal democracy and development are violated due to constraints on the domestic authority of the state. In this scenario, the international order imposes itself to restore the authority of the state by governmentalising the security, territory, and market access of the state. Through ethnographic and field survey research in south Kivu of eastern Congo, I argue that the restoration and extension of state authority is a grant given to the state on condition of the responsible exercise of norms and practices of international markets. The tin, tantalum and tungsten (3T) mineral supply chain in south Kivu are an example of such a grant extended by international market actors and their related resource policy regimes to strengthen the state by franchising its apparatuses through practical mechanisms and discourse aimed at implementing traceability of so-called conflict minerals. Here, sovereignty is a position that is made by international market rule delivered through infrastructure in the form of 3T-mineral supply chains that franchise the state with the aim of optimising its fiscal reach and penetration among upstream mineral producers in south Kivu.

Advantages and Challenges of Health Tourism Development in Croatia

This paper presents the advantages and challenges of Croatia as a health tourism destination. Croatia is a popular tourist destination where tourism significantly contributes to the country's GDP. Health tourism in Croatia is based on natural health resorts, preventative medical and rehabilitation programs, and various wellness offerings. However, the current state of health tourism is not very promising, as large medical institutions (such as clinical hospital centers, general hospitals, and polyclinics) show little interest. Previous guests have expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of innovation in the programs offered and the limited accessibility for persons with special needs. Significant investment in hotel and medical infrastructure is necessary to meet contemporary global tourist demand, including staff education and increased competitiveness in the international market. This research highlights the importance of health tourism as a selective type necessary for the current and future development of tourism at both local and international levels. The objective is to understand the existing potential of the Saint Nicholas Polyclinic and explore possibilities to further valorize health resources. The research methodology included a survey questionnaire, with results displayed graphically. The findings indicate that Croatia has the prerequisites for health tourism development, particularly in medical tourism. Keywords: tourism, health tourism, sanatorium, polyclinic, development

Run, not walk: advanced red queen effect and mutual forbearance effect in multimarket contact

PurposeThis study explores the evolutionary relationship between multimarket contact (MMC) and competitive actions among multinational corporations (MNCs). It aims to enhance the understanding of international market competition by incorporating insights into dynamic competition and parent–subsidiary relationships.Design/methodology/approachA structured content analysis was used to identify the competitive actions of global shipping liners. The dataset includes 8,204 actions identified across nine global arenas. Data were collected from 6,553 monthly news articles on Alphaliner. The period covered is from January 1, 2015, to June 30, 2023.FindingsThe results indicate that a higher degree of MMC leads to greater competitive aggressiveness, supporting the combination of mutual forbearance and the Red Queen effect. Additionally, market importance triggers the mutual forbearance effect, whereas competitive rivalry is weaker for overlapping cross-market contacts. Furthermore, local competitive intensity increases MNCs' contact and echoes the Red Queen effect, especially for subsidiaries facing increasing pressure from local responsiveness.Research limitations/implicationsLimitations include reliance on Alphaliner, potential inaccuracies from proxy variables, and unmeasured headquarters–subsidiary interactions. Future research should explore other industries and extend the study period for broader applicability and generalization.Practical implicationsBy interlacing mutual forbearance with the Red Queen effect within a coopetition framework, managers can devise strategies to balance competition and collaboration, thereby ensuring long-term viability and growth in global markets.Originality/valueThis study extends the concept of MMC to the context of global shipping liners, a previously underexplored sector. Unlike earlier research, this study empirically examines MMC dynamics globally and integrates mutual forbearance and the Red Queen effect.

Analysis of the Brand Internationalization Status and Development Environment of Chinese Enterprises

Driven by the wave of economic globalization in the 21st century, brand internationalization has become an important strategic choice for the enterprise and even the national level. With the internationalization of the market, the transnational of enterprises, the multinational capital and the intensification of competition, the brand has become a key indicator to measure the economic strength of a country or region. Although Chinese enterprises have cost and product advantages in the international market, their brand advantages are relatively weak, which leads to the limited image of Chinese products in overseas markets, and faces intellectual property challenges and dumping charges. To meet this challenge, the Chinese government has included independent innovation and brand building as the focus of the 11th Five-Year Plan since 2005, with the aim of enhancing international competitiveness. However, Chinese enterprises still face many problems in the process of brand internationalization, including the lack of brand strategy, the lack of understanding of the importance of brand internationalization, and the lack of grasp of development models and methods. At present, the theoretical research of brand internationalization has not yet formed a systematic framework, and there is a relative lack of systematic research on enterprise brand internationalization. Moreover, the practical history of Chinese enterprises in this field is relatively short, which provides a broad space for theoretical research and practical exploration. This paper aims to provide theoretical reference and strategic guidance for Chinese enterprises to enhance their brand competitiveness in the international market through in-depth study of the theory and practice of brand internationalization. Through the elaboration of the relevant theory of brand internationalization, the analysis of the development environment of Chinese brand internationalization, and the construction of the development strategy and mode of enterprise brand internationalization, this paper discusses the support system of brand internationalization development, in order to provide systematic theoretical support for the road of brand internationalization of Chinese enterprises.

Countermeasures of Chinese Home Appliance Enterprises Under the Background of "Belt and Road" to Develop the International Market

Countermeasures of Chinese Home Appliance Enterprises Under the Background of "Belt and Road" to Develop the International Market

Regulatory Issues and Countermeasures in International Financial Markets

With the deepening of globalization, the development speed of capital markets is constantly accelerating, presenting a trend of globalization. At the same time, the emergence of multiple forms of trading platforms and diversified financial products further highlights the competitive relationship between security exchanges and other trading platforms. While promoting the transformation of security exchange forms in various countries, it also prompts governments to re-examine the financial regulatory system of securities markets. In this situation, it is very important to research the international financial market and financial regulatory system. This article explores the regulatory issues and countermeasures in the international financial market, intending to promote the stability and healthy development of the international financial market.

Design of Export Strategy for Roasted Beans Products to The Asean Market Using The Swot Method and The Use of Trade Map (Case Study: Pt Wahana Development Indonesia)

This research aims to analyze the potential of roasted coffee bean products and provide a strategy proposal for PT. Wahana Development Indonesia (Kopi Sarongge) to maximize sales by exporting roasted beans via the Trade Map website to ASEAN countries, particularly Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand. The analysis methods employed include SWOT analysis, IFAS, EFAS, and strategy formulation using the TOWS matrix. Based on the processed data from the IFAS table, the IFAS value of 3.11 indicates that the Company possesses significant strengths. This suggests the Company has many internal advantages and capabilities. Furthermore, the EFAS table yielded a value of 2.73, indicating relatively favorable external conditions for the Company despite facing some challenges. In the TOWS matrix, the Company ranks 1st with an SO strategy, where it should leverage its reputation for high-quality coffee beans to meet the increasing demand in international markets, utilize competent human resources to explore the export-import sector, set competitive pricing to enhance competitiveness and attract international market interest, and utilize adequate production capacity to sell through various channels. This research was conducted to determine the strategies that the Company should employ to penetrate the ASEAN market.

Application of Nanotechnology to Enhance the Effectiveness and Stability of Essential Oils

The global demand for essential oils is expanding as a result of their numerous applications and increasing consumer exposure in the international market. Essential oils (EOs) are mixtures of volatile compounds including, but not limited to, phenolics, esters, ketones, terpenes, alcohols, and amides. The majority of EOs have excellent antioxidant, antibacterial, and functional activities. These natural products have conquered space in the food, drug, and cosmetic commercial arena. Unfortunately, like many lipophilic and aromatic active substances, EO presents some drawbacks such as low water solubility, strong organoleptic characteristics, low stability, and limited administration routes, which confines their Industrial use. EOs can be nanoencapsulated to increase their persistence, and bioavailability in the biological process by employing the optimum encapsulation polymers. Additionally, these particles are capable of controlling the release of the EOs promoting a prolonged preservative effect in cosmetics and foods, as well as a potential advantage for pharmaceutical dosage forms. The current research focuses on the essential features of EOs as well as their encapsulation methods. Furthermore, the potential applications of applying nanoencapsulated essential oils in the healthcare field were addressed.

ORGANIZATION OF INTERNATIONAL FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION IN EXTREME CONDITIONS OF TODAY: PROBLEMS AND TRENDS

Today, road transport in Ukraine remains among the leaders in terms of the share of cargo transportation both in domestic and international traffic. In the current conditions of globalization, increasing the efficiency of cargo delivery is one of the priority areas for reducing the costs of industrial organizations, trade and services. Stable and efficient operation of the transport complex is an important condition for the life support of the diversified economy and the implementation of the main directions of programs for the socio-economic development of Ukraine. The international transport market is characterized by strict requirements for the quality of transport services, which causes the high complexity of transportation process management. That is why enterprises in the transportation industry must constantly work on improving the international transportation of goods by road. The main aspect of these studies is freight transportation, methods and methods of organizing the integration of the Ukrainian economy into the world economy under modern conditions. The purpose of the study is to study theoretical, scientific and methodological approaches and practical aspects of solving the problems of organizing freight transportation in the context of deepening international cooperation between Ukraine and Poland. Achieving this goal involves solving a set of interrelated tasks:. In particular, to study the experience of Poland in the organization of freight transportation in the context of deepening international cooperation; to study the essence of the organization of freight transportation and to analyze the indicators of production and economic activity and international economic relations of the enterprise and to study the state and quality of the organization of freight transportation in the context of deepening international cooperation, in particular FOP "Alekseevets S.M."; to identify the problems of organizing freight transportation in the context of deepening international cooperation and to provide recommendations for the organization of freight transportation in the context of deepening international cooperation".

Spare Parts Marketing Development Strategy Using SWOT and BMC Approaches: A Case Study on PT. Persada Utama Diesel

This study aims to develop a spare parts marketing strategy using SWOT and Business Model Canvas (BMC) approaches at PT Persada Utama Diesel. Globalization has encouraged economic growth in various sectors, including exports and imports. However, international business activities also have risks that must be managed properly. Effective risk management can increase investor confidence, maintain company reputation, and ensure long-term business sustainability. This research uses a qualitative approach with a case study on PT Persada Utama Diesel. Data were collected through interviews, observations, and documentation studies. SWOT analysis and Business Model Canvas (BMC) were used to develop a spare parts marketing strategy. The results of the SWOT analysis identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats facing the company. Based on the BMC analysis, the company's current business model was also evaluated and developed. The recommended spare parts marketing strategy includes improving operational efficiency, developing a global distribution network, and strengthening strategic partnerships. The application of SWOT and BMC approaches is effective in developing a spare parts marketing strategy that can help PT Persada Utama Diesel in facing challenges and capitalizing on opportunities in an increasingly competitive international market.

Digital Marketing Implementation: Preparing Grace Trans Strategy on Tiktok App

Grace Trans, a unit of PT Matari Jelajah Indonesia, is a leading transportation and tour and travel company in Indonesia. The company focuses on providing excellent transportation services for children and adults, including corporate transportation, shuttle buses, and tour buses. Despite its success, Grace Trans faces challenges in international marketing due to limited manpower and lack of optimal social media marketing strategies, such as TikTok. To address this, the researcher analyzed the social media landscape through STP and Thematic Analysis, focusing on content and content pillars to effectively promote tourism in Indonesia through social media marketing. The researcher aims to increase its contribution to the international economy and promote Indonesian culture. By using social media platforms such as TikTok, Grace Trans can leverage its strengths and reach a wider audience, ultimately contributing to the country's economic growth and development.

Temporal dynamics of interactions in European Administrative Networks: The case of SOLVIT

This article provides an analysis of the temporal development of interactions within SOLVIT, the European Union's problem-solving internal market network. Adopting an agency-based, rationalist approach, we hypothesize that temporal development depends on cross-border interdependence, institutional homogeneity, SOLVIT centre caseload and Brexit. Testing these hypotheses, we control for members’ resources, perceptions of SOLVIT and endogenous network dynamics. The ensuing model is tested using stochastic actor-oriented models on interactions in 2011 and 2018, thus yielding a panel-data analysis. Our main finding is that SOLVIT interactions are remarkably stable over time. This is mostly due to the strong effect of interdependence, which is rather constant over time. Strikingly, we find no effect for institutional homogeneity, case load and Brexit. In sum, our analysis reveals that European Administrative Networks can develop into stable patterns of interactions, driven by rather structural features of interdependence.

Environmentally clean and dirty energy equities during extraordinary global conditions

I examine which extraordinary international events coincide with pronounced changes in the equity markets for some of the world’s largest publicly traded suppliers on opposite sides of the global energy mix — oil and environmentally clean energy companies. First, I adapt an intuitively appealing non-parametric filter to empirically timestamp unexpected and prominent increases and decreases in a wide range of global indicators relevant to the international energy market. Then, I use such extraordinary conditions to characterise the performance of oil and environmentally clean energy equities, and their relationships. My findings suggest that jumps in the global stock market, international crude oil market shocks, and the US dollar real effective exchange rate, are the indicators that define the financial landscape during which considerable gains, losses, and instability across both types of energy markets materialise. In contrast, major elevated uncertainties related to geo-political risk and climate policy reflect relative stability in the equities of both oil and environmentally clean energy companies. Although these results imply that both energy assets are potentially lucrative hedging strategies for investors to exploit during heightened geo-political and climate policy uncertainties, clean energy equities offer market participants the option to combine profit maximising and sustainability objectives while minimising global energy security risks.

Impactos ecológicos, económicos y sociales del sector cacaotero colombiano

Due to its excellent quality, Colombian cocoa has become a product that has made considerable inroads in the national and international market, increasing its demand and the effects inherent to its production practices. This scope review was carried out following the guidelines of the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI), which allowed the selection of 72 documents, whose information extraction led to the identification and standardization of the economic, ecological and social impacts of the cocoa sector in the different producing cities of Colombia, of which Santander, Antioquia, Arauca, Huila and Tolima stand out since they generate 70 % of the cocoa production at the national level. In the review, a total of 13 social, 25 ecological and 21 economic impacts are clearly observed, which correspond to the most persistent impacts evidenced in the different investigations carried out in this country.

Illuminating the dark web market of fraudulent identity documents and personal information: An international and Australian perspective

From the beginnings of Silk Road in 2011, anonymous online marketplaces have continued to grow despite the best efforts of law enforcement. While these ever-present marketplaces remain flooded with illicit drugs and related paraphernalia, the sale and distribution of fraudulent identity documents remains a persistent problem, with these items consistently appearing for sale on both the open and dark web. While fraudulent Australian documents are some of the most popular products for sale, there is still much that is unknown about the Australian criminal market and its place within anonymous online marketplaces. Given the success of previous research in understanding the illicit drug trade through examining these marketplaces, this work examines two markets to gain an understanding of where Australian document fraud sits within this digital ecosystem. Two anonymous online marketplaces were crawled across 2020 and 2021, White House Market (WHM), and Empire Market. This data was extracted and examined to identify trends within both the international online market and the online market specifically for Australian documents, both of which have been relatively underexplored in the online space. To help illuminate the features of the market, the types of documents for sale, supply and demand trends, and trafficking flows along with vendor-related trends (e.g. product diversification and presence across markets) were examined. Each market was examined individually and then, where possible, comparisons were drawn to gain a more holistic understanding of the online fraudulent document market, with a specific focus on Australian products. Results indicate that, while the fraudulent document portion of the market is small, it is diverse, with numerous different identity-related products for sale, the most common being driver’s licences from the United States (U.S.) and Australia, with digital documents dominating the whole marketplace. Overall, the most popular U.S. products were those that could be used to facilitate identity fraud, with the most popular Australian products being driver’s licences and ID packs, likely linked to the presence of the 100-point identity check system used in Australia. This study demonstrates that anonymous online marketplaces have thus far been under-utilised in the study of the fraudulent document market, and that to properly understand the illicit market for fraudulent documents and personal information both the online and physical sides of the market should be considered. This information, if properly utilised, can improve the current understanding of this persistent criminal environment, building on previous research and assisting policymakers in making informed decisions.

Small firm internationalization using digital platforms: an assessment and future research directions

PurposeThis study investigates how the extant literature approached the issue of small firms’ international market entry enabled by digital platforms.Design/methodology/approachThe paper presents a systematic literature review of the internationalization of small firms using digital platforms. It includes only empirical papers from Scopus and Web of Science databases, covering 2016 to mid-2023.FindingsThe study provides both (1) a descriptive analysis of the selected papers, encompassing their temporal and spatial distribution, methods, theoretical perspectives and the type of platform examined and (2) a qualitative analysis of the articles’ content in a narrative review structure, culminating in an integrated framework of key findings and suggested research questions on the role of digital platforms in small firm internationalization.Originality/valueThere is still a very limited number of studies addressing the phenomenon, with several scholars recently calling for further research. This paper compiles, synthesizes, analyzes and integrates the empirical literature on SME internationalization enabled by digital platforms, offering possible future avenues to advance research.

Finding opportunity in economic power dispatch: Saving fuels without impacting retail electricity prices in fuel-producing countries

In many oil- and natural gas-producing countries, fuels are allocated to the electricity sector at administratively set prices below international market prices for domestic policy reasons. This article shows that dispatching power units based on the opportunity costs of domestically used fuels can yield significant efficiencies, while end-user electricity prices can continue to reflect administratively set fuel prices. In addition, opportunity cost dispatch can bring environmental benefits when it results in switching the priority of oil and gas units in the merit order and facilitating investments in renewable energy. Therefore, this approach can support long-term net-zero emission targets. It can also resolve cross-border electricity trading issues faced by fuel-rich countries, which are reluctant to base their electricity exports on domestic fuel prices.

Exploitation of Ethiopian Coffee Land-race Potentials: Market Demand Oriented Specialty Variety Development

Coffee (Coffea arabica L.) is the major cash crop of Ethiopia. The country is ecologically very diverse which allows the coffee plant to grow under wide range of environments between altitudes of 550 to 2600 m. a.s.l. Ethiopia, being the place of origin for Arabica coffee, is endowed with genetic pool wealth of the crop and with enabling environmental conditions to sustainably produce and supply fine specialty coffee that can address emerging international market demand. The prevailing wide range of ecological condition in the country has have allowed the production of coffees of different types that are with uniquely distinctive quality profile, resistance to major diseases, plant growth and yield potential among many other desirable traits. Of the coffees produced in Ethiopia, the most popular internationally branded types (named depending on area of production) are; Sidama, Yirga-cheffe, Limmu, Gimbi and Harerghe coffees. These specific coffee localities, despite their valuable potential and the recognition they deserved on the world market, were lacking their own improved local varieties where they had been using coffee varieties released for other areas (south-western region) until the 2010. However, most of southwest varieties showed multitude of constraints such as poor adaptation and inherent quality adulteration under the locations. Cognizant of this problem, local land race variety development program was designed and implemented to promote sustainable production of the distinct coffee types by origin maintaining inherent qualities of the specific localities for enhanced export market expansion. Through this breeding approach so far, outstanding achievements were recorded in germplasm collection, evaluation for desirable agronomical traits, and generation of basic information on the genetics aspects, and development and release of 12 speciality varieties suiting for the specific coffee landraces in Ethiopia, i.e., 4 Harerghe, 4 Wollega/Gimbi, 3 Sidama/Yirgachefe and 1 Limu coffees. As the main focus areas of future Arabica coffee landrace improvement program, it would be vital to give due attention to further identification of new and distinctive landraces, extensive collection of coffee genetic resource from unaddressed localities, application of molecular breeding techniques such as marker assisted selection and breeding for major /emerging/ diseases and stress tolerance, among others.

Research on the Impact of RMB Exchange Rate Changes on China's Export Trade

The RMB exchange rate's fluctuation has become a critical element in China's export trade, due to the country's rapid economic growth and the quickening of global economic globalization. The potential of this exchange rate alteration to affect the cost of exports and the international market's competitiveness renders it one of the most influential regulatory forces in the export trade sector. To explore the impact of RMB exchange rate fluctuations on China's export trade, a linear regression model was constructed, based on panel data from 2001 to 2022 in 31 provinces (regions, cities) of China.A positive relationship between the real effective exchange rate index of RMB and China's total exports is evidenced by the results, and an appreciation of RMB can result in a rise in China's total exports. Therefore, the countermeasures and suggestions to stabilize exchange rate expectation, promote RMB internationalization and improve commodity competitiveness are put forward for reference.

On the Economic Impacts of the Xinjiang Cotton Incident upon Indigenous Local Chinese Brands

Guided by the SWOT model, this thesis explores the economic impacts of the Xinjiang Cotton Incident upon indigenous local Chinese brands with a case study of Li Ning. Coupled with a comparative analysis method, this thesis analyses the changes on revenue and market development in 2020 and 2021 and finds that the Xinjiang Cotton Incident has great influences on Li Ning in economic income, market development, regional development and the development of relevant industries. From the perspective of domestic and international markets, the income of domestic market increases greatly, while the proportion of international market decreases. In a word, the revenue has been rising sharply in all aspects. In terms of the cotton industry and the sporting goods industry, it not only affects the production and sales of cotton in Xinjiang, but also seriously affects the safety of China's cotton industry and its downstream textile industry. But the revenue of domestic sports brands will continue to rise in the coming period. Domestic sports brands will usher in a new era of development. For the future development, Li Ning Company is supposed to position products and target consumer groups accurately, improve the quality of advertising, and to create a more distinctive brand culture.