A Very Short, Fairly Interesting and Reasonably Cheap Book about International Business: (Very Short, Fairly Interesting & Cheap Books)

Selected as an Outstanding Academic Title by Choice Magazine, January 2010 Conceived by Chris Grey and written to get you thinking, the "Very Short, Fairly Interesting and Reasonably Cheap" series offers an informal, conversational, accessible yet sophisticated and critical overview of what you find in conventional textbooks. In International Business, the authors challenge the principles of business in the context of trading blocs, protectionism, and restricted trade; the effects of international governing bodies like the WTO, the IMF and the World Bank; looking at this very big and interesting field with humour and insightfulness. Ideal for Undergraduate students in Business and Management, this text will also appeal to anyone interested in the fast-paced world of International Business.

Table of Contents:
Introduction PART ONE: THEORIES OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS Chapter 1: Classical and Neo-Classical Theories of International Trade Chapter 2: 20th Century Developments in Trade Theories and IB Practice Chapter 3: Investment Theories of International Business PART TWO: ACTORS IN INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS Chapter 4: Institutions of International Business Chapter 5: The International Business Organization PART THREE: MANAGING IN THE INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT Chapter 6: Delivering Goods and Services Chapter 7: Finance, Accounting and Governance Chapter 8: Managing People in the International Arena Concluding Remarks

About the Author :
George Cairns is Adjunct Professor at QUT Business School, Brisbane. George co-founded and was co-editor of the journal Critical Perspectives on International Business. Throughout his writing, George has adopted a critical stance on the impacts of IB activity on remote and excluded stakeholders, both in the present and the future. Much of his work applies scenario methods to explore possible and possible futures. His studies include a number of journal articles on the ship breaking industry of Bangladesh. George has published in journals including Human Relations, European Journal of Operational Research, Technological Forecasting & Social Change, and Futures. Martyna Sliwa is Professor of Management and Organisation Studies at the University of Essex. Her research interests focus on a range of topics relevant to the employees, managers and other stakeholders of contemporary organisations, especially those operating in the international business environment. Examples of Martyna’s recent research projects include: language(s) and power in multinational corporations, transnational professional mobility, and the effects of the intersections of nationality and gender on organisational hierarchies and individual careers of highly skilled professionals. Martyna is currently an Associate Editor of Management Learning. She has published in a variety of journals, for example: the British Journal of Management, Journal of International Business Studies, Management Learning and Organization.

Review :
`While it is truly "very short" and thus may not suffice to serve as single textbook for such courses, it sports an attractive price tag and certainly features an excellent reference list with rich material for further research. In one sense, the authors have proven the marketing team of Sage Publications wrong, it is not only ′fairly interesting′, it is a compelling and outstanding book′ - Critical Perspectives on International Business "This important, clearly written book by two British academics will be of value to anyone interested in international business. It covers the historical origins of international business including the classical theories of international trade as well as topics not discussed in mainstream textbooks, such as the exploitation of natural resources resulting from European colonialism. This overview of international business does not emphasize only the favorable aspects of international business activities and how multinational corporations can be successful. The authors also address aspects of international business activities that harm society. These topics include working conditions in sweatshops of both less developed and developed countries; pollution caused by toxic waste disposal practices; the making of unsafe products; tax avoidance; and increasing economic inequality both between and within countries. The authors question the idea that the main purpose of international businesses should be to maximize profits for their stockholders, using such exploitive practices as moving production offshore to reduce labor costs in order to achieve competitive advantage. They believe that international businesses should be concerned with their social responsibility to workers, consumers, and society. Excellent references. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All business collections."