AIB Journals Podcast

Check out this podcast to explore a groundbreaking new framework that finally moves beyond the simplistic "good vs. bad" debate on corporate sustainability, revealing how global supply chains impact our planet in four distinct, context-dependent ways. By listening, you will uncover why the same environmental initiative can be a game-changer in a healthy ecosystem but barely scratch the surface in a degraded one, and what this means...

This podcast highlights how big global companies can team up with small startups to make real progress on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Using Bayer’s partnership with Ghana’s digital health venture Bisa, it shows a three-step process which involves matching complementary skills, linking with non-profits, and expanding into underserved regions, that can create both business and social impact. It’s an inspiring story of how...

This podcast dives into a fascinating “crowdsourced science” experiment where 57 analysts across the world tackled the same research questions with the same data but still came to considerably different conclusions, often with opposing effects for the same sets of variables. It shows how much research outcomes can depend on the analyst’s choices, yet also how combining many perspectives can reveal meaningful patterns beneath the no...

This podcast dives into how today’s startups are rewriting the playbook for going global. It unpacks four big shifts such as digitization, ecosystems, fractured geopolitics, and sustainability, which are reshaping how young firms expand and how governments should support them. It’s an energizing take on how connectivity, not just opportunity, is driving the new era of international entrepreneurship.

Citation: Zahra, S.A., Hashai, N...

This podcast discussing a recent article that shows how Africa’s small farmers and women entrepreneurs are finding creative ways to grow businesses by working with their communities and using simple, sustainable tools. It shares inspiring stories from Uganda and Tanzania where locals fixed old treadle sewing machines, boosted crop yields, and built new ways to reach markets. Real change comes from listening to village leaders, resp...

Green products are both cleaning up the planet and reshaping global trade. New research shows that unlike traditional goods, green products are more likely to be sourced from countries with stricter environmental standards, flipping the old “pollution haven” story on its head. The race is on: firms chasing green credibility are seeking out “green havens,” where tougher rules actually boost exports and reputations rather than drive ...

This podcast discusses a JIBP article that explores how firms in developing regions can turn foreign technology into real wins for the planet. It shows that the biggest gains happen when companies have the skills, drive, and freedom to use new tools to cut waste and emissions. The podcast calls for smarter policies that not only share technology but also build local know-how, reward green innovation, and clear away red tape so that...

This podcast episode discusses a new article that argues that Africa’s thousands of languages create a barrier to trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and proposes Kiswahili as a single trade language to boost communication, economic integration, and poverty reduction. It presents a 25-year roadmap using institutional theory’s three pillars: rules and enforcement (regulative), shared norms (normative), and c...

Climate change is a critical issue, largely driven by human activities like burning fossil fuels and deforestation. Multinational enterprises (MNEs) contribute significantly to global emissions but also have the resources to combat climate change. This podcast episode discusses an article that explores whether and how worsening ecological conditions motivate MNEs to innovate climate solutions.

Citation: Genin, A., Bu, J. (2025). Gl...

Middle-income countries are rushing to stake their claim in the booming green economy, but the real prize lies in moving beyond simply “joining” global value chains to actually upgrading within them. Solar, wind, and bioenergy projects are opening doors, yet lasting gains come only when governments blend demand incentives, supply support, and technology policies in the right mix. The message is clear: seizing green windows of oppor...

Behind the glossy façade of philanthropy, corporations are funneling millions into charities tied to politicians, turning donations into covert power plays. From South Korea’s explosive Choi-gate scandal to U.S. defense contractors funding pet causes of lawmakers, the cases show a global pattern of “charitable bribes” reshaping corruption’s playbook. This investigation reveals how firms dodge scrutiny, distort competition, and why ...

Why do some films find success globally while others fizzle out? This podcast dives into the hidden power of social influence such as how critics, stars, and even press freedom can make or break a movie’s international success, discussing a recent article that studies how cultural industries expand internationally.  

Citation: Huang, X., Fan, D. & Soo, C. (2025). A social influence view of the internationalization of cultural p...

Hydrogen is being hailed as the fuel of the future, but the real story is how latecomer countries are racing to grab a slice of the action. From Namibia to India, governments are rolling out bold strategies to turn sun, wind, and gas into global exports, green industries, and even new tech niches. The contest isn’t just about clean energy. It is about rewriting industrial policy and reshaping who gets to win in the next energy revo...

Global crises, climate shocks, and AI advances are challenging the old rules of management education, leaving leaders scrambling to keep up. A new teaching approach called the “fire-mindset” offers a path forward by focusing on curiosity, intellectual rigor, and co-creation of knowledge in the face of disruption. It’s a call to rewire how we teach international business so future leaders can better navigate through an unpredictable...

Space is becoming a new frontier for business, with both private companies and governments eager to explore and exploit its resources. The Space economy is rapidly expanding and is projected to reach nearly $3 trillion by 2045. This shift from exploration to exploitation presents new challenges and opportunities; this podcast episode discusses a recent JIBS article that provides a perspective on how businesses and scholars need to ...

Discussing the introductory editorial to a new JIBP special issue on industrial policy and global value chains, this podcast uncovers how firms are navigating backlash, bias, and political headwinds abroad, as their focus shifts from economic prosperity to security in light of recent global disruptions. 

Citation: Gereffi, G., Pananond, P., Tell, F. et al. Navigating industrial policy and global value chains in an era of disruption...

Emerging markets (EMs) have become a focal point of academic inquiry and policy interest as they complement and sometimes even challenge established paradigms based on developed economies. International Business scholars, practitioners, and policymakers have long debated how unique emerging markets and their firms are, and if this uniqueness warrants or requires special attention, distinct policies, and new theories. Developed in c...

Foreign companies often face more regulatory challenges than local ones when operating in different countries, which is partly due to unfamiliarity with local rules and networks. However, discrimination against foreign firms has not been studied as much, as discussed in this podcast episode focusing on a new study that explores how the political beliefs of a host country’s government can increase the regulatory risks for foreign fi...

This podcast dives into policies that can make value chains more resilient and the potential reactions of firms to these policies. It’s a fresh take on value chain reconfiguration with practical insights from the frontlines of public health and the global pharmaceutical industry, discussing a recent JIBP article about value chain disruptions and policy responses to antibiotic shortages in GVCs.

Citation: Baraldi, E., Ciabuschi, F. ...