This course develops a thorough understanding of the economic challenges and opportunities firms face when engaging in the global economy. For any given company, it is essential that comparative advantage is complementary to its offerings abroad — that is, is the country environment must be consistent with what the company seeks to sell abroad? This alone, however, is not enough to be successful in the global economy. Managers must understand how to navigate the many challenges companies face when entering foreign markets, including but not limited to an understanding of trade costs, tariff and non-tariff barriers, free trade agreements, the creation of global supply chains, protections for intellectual property, consumer preferences and tastes, trade finance, product affordability, and managing exchange rates risks.