Global Issues

1
Global Issues

• When in Rome do as the Romans do?

2
Multinational Corporations

• Advantages for multinationals
• Inexpensive labor
• Natural resources
• Favorable taxes
• Fresh markets
• Advantages for host country
• New jobs
• Better jobs (higher pay and greater challenge)
• Technology transfer
• Social benefits from sharing the wealth

3
Multinational Corporations

• Issues
• Loss of jobs at home
• Host country loss of resources, control of trade,
  and political independence
• Multinational usurping control of host government
• Moral responsibilities fo corporations and
  individuals operating is less developed countries

4
International RightsAre ethics relative or are
there absolute rights to

• Freedom of physical movement
• Ownership of property
• Freedom from torture
• A fair trial
• Nondiscriminatory treatment (based on race or sex)

• Physical security
• Freedom of speech and association
• Minimal education
• Politcal participation
• subsistence

5
Example Cases

• Union Carbide (Bhopal) tried to hide knowledge
  of safety violation
• Lockheed (Japan) authorized secret payments of
  around 12 million to representative of Japans
  Prime Minister
• Shell (Nigeria) disregarded the safety and
  livelihood of local people when drilling and
  laying pipelines
• WTO trade agreements bar US from imposing
  environmental restriction of imports

6
Defense Industry Issues

• Military buildups are prone to problems due to
• Secrecy (limited oversight, limited availability
  of technology, cover-up of mistakes)
• Urgency (waste, oversight issues)

7
Defense Discussion Topic
Just-War Theory war acceptable when 1. the war
must be fought for a just cause 2. the motives
are good 3. it must follow a call from higher
authority to legitimize it 4. the use of force is
based on necessity 5. noncombatant immunity 6.
proportionality of damage and consequences to
need and cost
Describe a scenario for the conduct of a just
war. Describe the kinds of weapons engineers
might have to develop to wage one.
8
Global Market

• Web sites support easy access to global markets
• Must be able to handle various methods of payment
• Non-credit card business
• Checks on foreign banks
• Wired transfers
• Must be able to communicate with customer
• Emails in foreign language
• Phone calls from those not speaking English
• Must be able to translate Web material to
  appropriate language
• Some programs available for this purpose