個案總覽

Focuses on the development of London as a leading international financial center and the difficulties it faces maintaining its status. Examines London's history as a financial center from Roman times to the present day. London's position in the 19th century rested on the great importance of Britain in the world economy and the role of sterling as the major international currency. By the mid-20th century both of these factors were much reduced in importance, but London was renewed as the physical home of the Euromarkets. Explores regulatory and other factors, including economies of agglomeration, which contribute to making a financial center.

Examines the tensions multinationals cause by focusing on Europe's reaction to the growing U.S. multinational investment in the 20th century. Initially, Europeans rarely felt threatened by U.S. investments, however, tensions grew over time. After the Second World War, there was a major political and cultural storm over the "Coca Colonization" of France. Takes its name from the often-cited book by Jean Jacques Servan-Schreiber, published in 1967, which symbolized the ambiguous feelings of many Europeans toward U.S. investment. In other countries, U.S. management practices aroused antagonism.

Covers several important expropriation cases in international business from the 20th century and highlights the legal and political difficulties these companies faced. Serves to explain expropriation, to stress the vulnerability of foreign direct investments to political risk in host countries, and to discuss the limitations of international property law.