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International Business Administration

Multinational Enterprises: Theory and Empirics

Exam number: 3940

Semester: from 4th semester (Schwerpunktbildung)

Duration of the module: One semester

Form of the module (i.e. obligatory, elective etc.): Elective

Frequency of module offer: Each summer semester

Prerequisites: Successful completion of Mathematik / Mathematics, Mikroökonomie / Microeconomics, Statistik / Statistics. Grundlagenausbildung should be completed.

Applicability of module for other study programmes:
Obligatory or elective in other study programmes. For further information check regulations of the study programme.

Person responsible for module: Prof. Ingo Geishecker, PhD

Name of the professor: Prof. Ingo Geishecker, PhD

Language of teaching: English

ECTS-Credits (based on the workload): 6

Workload and its composition (self-study, contact time):
Contact time (lecture, tutorials, seminar etc.) 33,75 h; self-study: 146,25 h

Contact hours (per week in semester): 3

Methods and duration of examination:
Successful written exam (120 min)

Emphasis of the grade for the final grade: Please check regulations of the study programme

Aim of the module (expected learning outcomes and competencies to be acquired):
Knowledge of theories explaining Multinational Enterprises’ activities
Development of skills for reading and interpreting empirical studies
Development of statistical skills for basic data analysis

Contents of the module:
The course covers basic theories of multinational enterprises and related empirical research. Topics include internationalisation strategies of firms, the analysis of trade costs, offshoring, as well as productivity and labour market effects of multinational firms’ activities. Part of the course is a small home assignment for which students estimate a simple gravity model to assess the importance of physical, cultural and other separations for international transactions.

Teaching and learning methods:
Lecture with tutorial, self-studies

Literature (compulsory reading, recommended literature):
Compulsory:
Keith Head, Elements of Multinational Strategy, Springer 2007.
Giorgio Barba Navaretti and Anthony J. Venables, Multinational Firms in the World Economy, Princeton University Press, 2006.

Further information:
Registration in Moodle Viadrina required.