NMIMS Global Access
School for Continuing Education (NGA-SCE)
Course: International Business
Internal Assignment Applicable for April 2020 Examination
1. Analyze the financial accounts in the Balance of payments statements of any two countries in the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) for different types of capital flows. (10 Marks)
2. Being an exporter of garment house, discuss how letter of credit can be used for processing export contracts. (10 Marks)
3. Alphabet unit Google was hit with a record-breaking 4.34 billion euro ($5.04 billion) fine on Wednesday, topping the 2.4 billion euros it was ordered to pay in another case last year. EU antitrust regulators accused it of abusing the dominance of its Android smartphone operating system by blocking rivals. Below is a timeline of Google’s antitrust cases in Europe: 18 July 2018 - EU antitrust regulators hand down a 4.34 billion euro fine to Google after a three-year long investigation. 27 June 2017 - EU fines Google 2.4 billion euros for thwarting rivals of shopping comparison websites. 14 July 2016 - EU sets out another charge against Google’s shopping service. It also accuses the company of preventing third parties using its Adsense product from displaying search advertisements from Google’s competitors - a third case against the company. 20 April 2016 - EU sends a charge sheet to Google outlining the company’s anti-competitive practices with regard to Android smartphone makers and apps makers. 15 April 2015 - EU opens investigation into Google’s Android smartphone operating system. 15 April 2015 - EU charges Google with blocking competitors of its shopping service. Sept 2014 - Almunia says he will not be able to wrap up the Google case before his mandate ends in October. May 2014 - Joaquin Almunia, European Competition Commissioner at that time, says feedback from complainants will be crucial to determining whether he accepts Google’s concessions. 5 Feb 2014 - Google improves its concessions related to online search.
2013 - Lobbying Group Fair Search files a complaint about Google’s Android business practices to the European Commission. 25April 2013 - EU seeks feedback from rivals and users to Google’s concessions.
a. Discuss how the legal aspects of business environment impacting Google in Europe. (5 Marks)
b. Discuss all the other aspects of the business environment that provide complexity to international business operations like cultural aspects for companies engaged in International business. (5 Marks)
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