Argentina-Brazil: Trade Trouble Ahead?

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Will Brazil's new government will be quicker to react to Argentina's non-tariff trade barriers than its predecessors?

Trouble began brewing in February, when Argentina lengthened the list of Brazilian-made products that no longer qualify for its automatic import licenses from 400 to 600. One of the first sectors to take a hit was Brazil's footwear manufacturing. After the U.S. and the U.K., Argentina is the biggest market for Brazilian shoes.

Learn more over at Knowledge at Wharton: "The Ties That Bind: A new Twist in Brazil-Argentina Trade Tactics?

Posted by:  The Global Small Business Blog

The Hero Group

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As managing director of Hero Motors and Hero Cycles (Hero Group), Pankaj Munjal oversees the company's two-wheeler production as well as its global auto components business.

In an interview with India Knowledge@Wharton at the 2010 Wharton India Economic Forum, the auto aficionado spoke about why his firm is focused on the small-car market, what he looks for in new hires, and what toys he likes to take for a drive.

Note: The Hero Group comprises of 20 companies, 300 ancillary suppliers, deep market penetration with over 5,000 outlets, 23,000 + employees and has a turnover of US$ 3.20 billion (FY 2006).

Read the interview here.

Posted by: The Global Small Business Blog

Open to International Investors: Indonesia

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Why is Indonesia so ripe to international investment opportunities?

Indonesia has a very positive story to tell -- for openers, its economy is on track to hit $1 trillion in GDP by 2014. The country is the third-largest democracy in the world and it is in a demographic sweet spot -- half its population is under 30.

Read more on why Indonesia might be a good place to invest or export to -- here.

Posted by: The Global Small Business Blog

Word-of-Mouth Global Marketing

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Getting customers to spread the word about a new product through their global social or professional networks is a hot strategy in the marketing world.

But how do companies find the right individuals to deliver the message? New research by Wharton marketing professors Raghuram Iyengar and Christophe Van den Bulte finds that traditional targets may not be so influential.

The global buzz starts here.

When Are Emerging Markets No Longer Emerging?

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When you think of emerging, what comes to mind? I think about something evolving on its own. It moves from informal to formal and begins to develop, grow and eventually prosper.

The folks at Knowledge at Wharton have a whole new way of determining what emerging means when it comes to country development.

It's definitely worth a look.