Income and Employment

Other important aspects of the economy that affects a business operation, are the employment density and rate of income. The per capita income and density of employment determines the rate of demand, density of demand, and also the purchasing power of the people. For example, during an economic upturn, there are employment opportunities which generate income that enables people to possess a stronger purchasing power. On the contrary, as the employment density and income rate go down during recession period, the purchasing power of the people also diminishes.

General Price Level

Another very important aspect of the economy that plays a part in the growth of business is the general price levels of commodities. Costs of raw materials, paying power of people, cost of production, and cost of transportation are some of the most important components that determine the general price levels and in turn, lower the profit margin of a business.

For example, an increase in the price will reduce the total revenue generated as there might be a dip in the demand. Let us assume that we have bought 16 pizzas for the price of $4. However, after an increase in the price of pizzas, we may get to buy only 8 pizzas even after shelling out $6.

Trade Cycles

A trade cycle plays a part in fluctuating the costs of goods and commodities in an economy. Prosperity, recession, depression, and recovery are the phases of a business cycle that affect the demand and supply of all goods. Also, trade cycles often affect the general price levels of essential and non-essential commodities.

Inflation

Inflation is a phenomenon that occurs when there is too much supply of money in the economy that is not supported by the output of goods and services. As there is a lot of money floating around, the prices of goods also increase in order to sustain the businesses, resulting in the increase of costs of raw materials which are needed for production. A hike in the prices of raw materials, thus, also increases the cost of a product.

In simple words, the buying capacity of people decreases, when their incomes remain constant but the prices of products and services increase. This affects the demand for the goods. For example, in 2008, Zimbabwe faced the worst case of inflation, which proved disastrous for its economy and led to the abandonment of its currency.

Recession

During recession, companies face a decrease in sales revenues and profits. To curtail cost, they resort to cutting back on hiring new employees, making capital expenditure, marketing and advertising expenditures, research and development activities, etc. This not only affects large organizations, but also the small ones which act as vendors to these big companies.

Smaller organizations may find it difficult to survive in recession due to lack of financial funds or availability of loans. Also, people may shift their preferences to slightly affordable products during recession or may not spend on luxury items at all. This will also have a negative impact on the demand for these products. Factors like falling stocks, lack of dividends, below par quality, employee lay-offs, bankruptcy, etc. during recession may also affect the business adversely. For example, in 2007, when the banking industry was unable to face the meltdown of the mortgage market, it inadvertently led to a free fall of the stock market and a decrease in consumer spending. It also set into motion a chain of events that resulted into a global recession within a year.

Exchange Rate

When a company buys certain goods from a US-based organization, it will have to convert its currency into US dollars for making the payment. If the currency of the buyer is stronger than the US dollar, it will be beneficial for the company. However, if it is weak, the company will have to shell out more money. This was an example of an export business. A similar logic will also be applicable to the import business. Moreover, price competition in the international market often leads to fluctuating prices. This is because a foreign company in the US market may increase or decrease its prices depending on the changes in the exchange rate. Suppose some time ago, 1 pound was 1.5 US$. However, today, it may decrease to 1.3 US$ if the value of dollar appreciates. This will cause the imported goods from UK to become cheaper for the consumers in the US. However, this will not be a good news for US exporters as UK consumers will find that they are getting lesser returns for a pound's worth.

Rate of Interest

The rate of interest has a direct impact on the loans that business take to sustain or propel their growth. The higher the interest rates, businesses find it difficult to commit to projects that require investment. On the contrary, lower rates make it easier for people to borrow money in order to buy cars and houses. Low loan rates also provide an opportunity to people to spend more on other things, thus creating a demand for various goods and services, and thereby spurring the growth of economy.

Government Regulations

There are several government agencies that regulate businesses for the safety of humans, animals, and environment. Some industries are heavily regulated and introduction of new laws discourage uncontrolled growth of factories and plants. For example, a coal-powered power plant may be asked to be shut down because of an environmental threat it poses. This may affect a business drastically. Every changing factors in an economy affect the working of businesses. Hence, companies need to have a foolproof strategy and contingency revenue reserves to cope with such dynamic changes. It is best to take calculated risks and expand a business when the rates of interest are low and the demand is high.

Key words

- international business: business whose activities are carried out across national borders.

This not only includes international trade and foreign manufacturing but also the growing service industry in areas such as transport, tourism, advertising, construction, mass communication,..

- foreign business: the operations of a company outside its home or domestic market; many refer to this as business conducted within a foreign country (sometimes used interchangeably with international business)

- gloablization (economic) – the tendency toward an international integration of goods, technology, information, labour, and capital, or the process of making this integration happen

- foreign direct investments (FDI) – direct investments in equipment, structures, and organizations in a foreign country at a level that is sufficient to obtain significant management control; does not include mere foreign investments in stock markets

- exporting – transportation of any domestic good or service to a destination outside a country or region; the opposite of importing which is the transportation of any good or service into a country or region, from a foreign point of view