Redrawing the Map of Global Trade
Even when the global economy fully recovers, the international trade landscape will look dramatically different in the years ahead than it did before the pandemic.
Even when the global economy fully recovers, the international trade landscape will look dramatically different in the years ahead than it did before the pandemic.
COVID-19 is shaping up to be transformative to public health and the economy. On hbr.org, Martin Reeves, chairman of the BCG Henderson Institute, and colleagues explain why resilience continues to be the best answer to uncertainty.
Emerging-market companies that sell through retailers must respond to evolving customer needs, navigate a new landscape, and lower their costs.
The impact of COVID-19 in Africa may be mitigated by the youthful population—but a constrained health system and high incidence of other health conditions will intensify the challenge.
To address flaws exposed by the pandemic, companies should accelerate efforts to revamp their worldwide manufacturing and sourcing networks—even if that means extra cost.
Some companies have emerged from economic lockdown prepared for the tough road ahead. What did it take—and how are they mobilizing for the new reality? Here is a sampling of the world’s success stories.
Beyond Great
How to build sustainable business advantage in a world where great is no longer good enough.
Were the world’s biggest trading relationship to unwind, US companies would have more to lose than Chinese firms in terms of revenue and access to critical supplies.
New research shows that, compared to a future of rising protectionism, fair trade would lead to gains of $2 trillion annually in global GDP through 2025 -- and much faster economic recovery from Covid-19.
Plans to tax CO2 emissions that are attributed to imports would hike costs for EU trade partners and redefine competitive advantage in many industries.
Tighter curbs on technology sales to China could reverse the virtuous innovation cycle that has long powered US dominance of the industry globally.
As digital transforms both the how and the what of global trade, companies must understand their own context, marry their digital and global agendas, and help shape policy that is economically sensible and politically robust.
Shifting tariffs grab the headlines, but the rise of Southeast Asia and differences in worker productivity are also altering the cost equation for global manufacturing.
While the “green shift” has been on Norwegian business leaders’ agenda for several years, we are now starting to see real impact. Companies are shifting their approach to sustainability from avoiding negative consequences to building competitive advantages through green efficiency (increased resource efficiency) or green growth (innovation in products or services).
Global Growth Hot Spots
Multinational companies need a new approach for identifying global growth opportunities in this new phase of globalization. Consider the opportunities within a market, rather than the market’s economy overall.
Explore the global hot spots
Six months since our initial consumer sentiment survey, behavioral patterns are starting to take shape.
Even before the pandemic, the Spanish-speaking countries of South America were engaged in socio-political debates on economic activity. COVID-19 has raised additional fears.
E-wallet use is soaring in one of the world’s great growth zones. As competition intensifies, the stakes for both banks and new digital finance entrants are huge.
Traditional spending habits are giving way to a focus on experiences, customized products, and time-saving services.
