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Microsoft and Intel are both obvious targets for antitrust litigation; both wield considerable control in their respective segments of the computer industry. But while Microsoft has been mired in court for years now--its name and business practices dragged through the mud, and its very future as a single company thrown into doubt--Intel has avoided a prolonged, high-profile antitrust case. Intel's success is not a matter of luck. The company's antitrust compliance program, refined over many years, has been an integral element in the chip maker's business strategy. In this article, the authors suggest that Intel's approach to compliance provides a valuable model for any enterprise that may come under regulators' scrutiny. They describe how Intel created extremely conservative antitrust compliance standards and then instituted a series of unique training events that had active support from then-CEO Andy Grove and others in senior management. Intel recognizes that no matter how cautious it is, it will always face extraordinary scrutiny as a market leader. But "since antitrust is embedded in everything we do," Grove says, "we can control our destiny."

President Vincente Fox takes over in Mexico on December 1, 2000--a political revolution ending 71 years of PRI rule. In the past five years, Mexico has solved a number of macroeconomic problems and had a good run of economic growth. But a host of microeconomic problems have been largely ignored for years--poverty, income distribution, education, labor reform, energy and the environment, crime, and drugs. The Fox administration is trying to lay out plans for mitigating all of these problems at once--a very ambitious strategy. Do they have the problems right, and will it work?

Supplements Japan: "Free, Fair, and Global?"

Examines the extended conflict between free traders and protectionists in 19th century Britain. It culminates with Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel's decision at the end of 1845 about whether to repeal the Corn Laws, a series of acts that had protected British agriculture for almost 200 years. With landowners and industrialists battling fiercely over the issues, nearly everyone agreed that the decision would be momentous.

Presents four views of U.S. macroeconomic developments in the late 1990s: an HBS professor, the Federal Reserve, the Clinton administration, and President George W. Bush. Develops the implications of the new economy--technological and organizational change--for business and discusses the important issues for the conduct of macroeconomic policy that these phenomena raise.

In 2001, Brazil stands at a crossroads. The country seems to be emerging from decades of economic stagnation. The economic situation remains tenuous, however, Brazil's leaders must now chart a forward course. Most critically, they must decide whether Brazil's future rests with close links to the global economy.

Focuses on a decision by the European Competition Commissioner Mario Monti about U.S.-based Microsoft Corp. Sun has complained to the commission that Microsoft has installed components in its desktop operating system that only "talk" to Microsoft operating systems for servers. Sun has further complained that Microsoft released information about its operating systems to some partners but not to Sun. The commission has issued a formal complaint, but Monti's decision is still pending at the time of the case. As background for this decision, the case contains information about the U.S. antitrust case against Microsoft, U.S. and European competition laws, and how European lawmakers have dealt with interconnections among IT components in the past.

An introduction to the concept of exchange rates, simple analytics regarding currency appreciation and devaluation, and real and nominal exchange rates. Concludes with a series of examples that illustrate how shifts in exchange rates and inflation can affect firms' competitiveness.

Tests students' understanding of exchange rate analytics and how shifts in exchange rates affect firms' economics.

Focuses on efforts to combat corruption. Approaches include international laws, international agreements, efforts by international development organizations, and private efforts by firms and nongovernmental organizations.

Several investment firms and mutual funds position themselves as providers or facilitators of opportunities for socially responsible investment. This case addresses the impact of these firms on publicly traded companies. Focuses on managers at ABB, a large multinational based in Switzerland that has tried to be a leader in integrating principles of sustainable development into its business strategies. ABB's managers now need to decide what sorts of relationships they would like to have with the firms in the socially responsible investment community and the extent to which they ought to take the preferences of these firms into account in tailoring their business strategies.

Explores various aspects of corruption in international business, in two sections. The first section provides a broad discussion of the ethical, business, and legal aspects of corruption. The second section provides a series of "caselets" that are designed to promote discussion of how students would act in particular situations, as well as the potential costs and benefits of these actions.

Supplements the (A) case. A rewritten version of an earlier supplement.

China is one of the most popular investment destinations in the world. Throughout much of the 1990s, China accounted for 50% of foreign direct investment (FDI) going into developing countries, and between 1994 and 1997, China was the second-largest recipient of FDI in the world, after the United States. The recent agreements between China and the United States and the European Union over China's accession into the World Trade Organization (WTO) may increase China's already impressive FDI inflows significantly. This case examines the drivers of FDI flows into China and the lessons for other developing countries.

On January 6, 1999, Itamar Franco, the governor of the state of Minas Gerais, the second-largest state in Brazil, declared a 90-day moratorium on its debt payment to the federal government. The announcement triggered a run on the Brazilian currency, the Real, and threatened the macroeconomic stability carefully constructed by President Fernando Henrique Cardoso since 1993. Confidence in the country on the part of foreign investors was badly shaken. This case traces the origin of this crisis.

Examines the extended conflict between free traders and protectionists in nineteenth-century Britain. It culminates with Prime Minister Robert Peel's decision at the end of 1845 about whether to repeal the Corn Laws, a series of acts that had protected British agriculture for almost 200 years. With landowners and industrialists battling fiercely over the issues, nearly everyone agreed that the decision would be momentous.

Examines Mavesa's response to economic liberalization. Looks at Mavesa's efforts to expand into neighboring countries. Also looks at efforts to support the firm's stock price. A rewritten version of an earlier case.

In December 1999, Newbridge Capital, an equity investment fund based in San Francisco, successfully negotiated with the Korean government to acquire a controlling interest in Korea First Bank. It was the first time a foreign financial institution acquired a Korean Bank. The negotiation was difficult and protracted, and the two sides tried hard to reach an agreement that would preserve the interests of both. The case examines the conditions and the motivations underlying one of the most significant acquisition deals in the Korean economy.

Supplements the (A) case.

In March 2000, plans for the initial public offering of shares in PetroChina were proceeding on schedule, and institutional investors were evaluating the deal. PetroChina was China's largest oil and gas company and an attractive play on China's continued economic growth. The imminent listing on the Hong Kong and New York stock exchanges was designed to raise revenue and produce discipline for the firm. Disclosure policies and a new management compensation system with management rewards based on stock prices suggested a focus on investor interests. At the same time, the AFL-CIO drew attention both to corporate governance concerns with PetroChina and to human and labor rights issues linked to PetroChina's parent company. Was PetroChina an investment to avoid or a risk worth taking? Also raises broader questions about the roles of the state and the private sector.