Global Business Economics and Finance Project 1 Assessment

A. Project question
A major multinational corporation has appointed you as an economic advisor. You
are requested to compile a report regarding the macroeconomic environment in two
countries where the firm operates and explain how it might affect the company’s
economic activity.
B. Project specifications

1. You may choose to focus your analysis on any existing firm with
   international activity that can be of different types in the two countries.
2. The two countries must be chosen from section C below as follows: one
   country from List 1 and one country from List 2.
3. Your report must include:
   a. A brief description of the company and the product/market it operates
   in for both countries.
   b. An analysis of the market structure in which your company operates for
   the two countries.
   c. A comparative analysis of all major macroeconomic indicators (see
   section D below, excluding 5 and 8) for the two countries and their
   overall impact on firm’s economic activity.
   d. An analysis of the monetary and fiscal policy (instruments) for the two
   countries and their impact on the firm’s economic activity. You must
   include here an analysis of the interest rates (Section D, indicator 5).
   e. An analysis of the foreign trade policy instruments (international trade
   agreements) for the two countries and their impact on firm’s economic
   activity. You should include here an analysis of the exchange rates
   (Section D, indicator 8).
   2
   C. Country Lists
   List 1 List 2
   Germany China
   France India
   United Kingdom Brazil
   United States Russia
   Japan Mexico
   D. Macroeconomic indicators1 to be analysed (the last available 10 years):
4. GDP growth rate
5. GDP per capita at constant prices
6. Inflation rate (CPI)
7. Unemployment rate (ILO measure)
8. Interest rate (Monetary Policy Rate)2
9. General government balances (% of GDP)
10. Balance of Payments (% of GDP)
11. Exchange rates (National Currency/USD OR National Currency/Euro)3
    1 We recommend that you use the IMF database to collect your data for most of these macroeconomic
    indicators.
    2 Data available from the relevant Central Banks websites
    3 ibid
    3
    E. Project 1 Submission Guidelines
    Length 2,500 words, +/- 10% (excluding tables, graphs, footnotes
    and references)
    Presentation Arial 12 fonts, 1 ½ spacing, justified text
    References A minimum of 20 references using APA Referencing Style
    (textbooks, official data and information sources)
    F. Marking criteria and weights
    CRITERIA WEIGHTS
    Brief description of the company and analysis of the market
    structure in which the company operates for the two countries
    20%
    Data collection, comparative analysis of major macroeconomic
    indicators and impact on firm’s economic activity
    25%
    Analysis of the monetary, fiscal and foreign trade policy for the two
    countries and their impact on firm’s economic activity
    40%
    Report structure, presentation and references 15%