Publications

September 2019 (Revised January 2022)
Teaching Note

The U.S. – China Trade War

By: Alberto Cavallo

Teaching Note for HBS No. 719-034. View Details

January 1995
Background Note

Note on Foreign Direct Investment

By: Debora L. Spar

Between 1985 and 1990, the global economy witnessed an unprecedented surge in flows of foreign direct investment (FDI). This sudden increase called back into prominence the range of questions that have long surrounded FDI. What causes firms to expand or contract their... View Details

Keywords: Foreign Direct Investment

March 2001
Teaching Note

Creating the International Trade Organization TN

By: David A. Moss

Teaching Note for (9-798-057). View Details

20 Aug 2010
News

Bashing Beijing Will Not Help Our Trade Deficit

March 2013
Article

Financial Development, Fixed Costs and International Trade

Exporting firms face significant up-front costs in product design, marketing, and distribution, which likely would be difficult to finance externally. We argue that a developed financial system can facilitate exports, and we test three implications. First, a more... View Details

Keywords: Trade; Finance

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July 1992 (Revised May 1996)
Background Note

Note on Commodity Futures

By: Kenneth A. Froot, Jay O. Light and Nancy Donohue

Describes how commodity futures work, what products and exchanges are available, and who the players in the commodity markets are. Also presents a careful discussion of the pricing of futures in commodity markets, focusing on cost of carry and risk premium approaches,... View Details

Keywords: Futures and Commodity Futures

Web

Commodities, Currencies, and Balancing of the Trade Deficit - A Chronicle of the China Trade

of the China Trade Introduction Doing Business with China Augustine Heard & Co. The Canton Trade Commodities & Currencies Treaty Ports & Compradors Clippers & Steamships Exploring View Details

May 2010 (Revised September 2020)
Background Note

A Note on Real Estate Research

By: Arthur I Segel, Griffin James, Ann Cullen, Kathryn FitzGerald and Austin Haley

This note provides a comprehensive research guide for real estate students, professionals, and executives. It includes lists of real estate industry trade organizations, publicly available research resources, books, and journals relevant to a wide range of financial... View Details

Keywords: Real Estate; Property; Investment; Research; Personal Development and Career; Real Estate Industry

February 1988 (Revised November 1994)
Background Note

Note on Fundamental Parity Conditions

By: W. Carl Kester and Richard P. Melnick

Provides a simple framework for analyzing expected exchange rate movements. Basic parity and equilibrium conditions are presented including purchasing power parity, forward parity, interest rate parity, the domestic Fisher effect, and the international Fisher effect... View Details

Keywords: Currency Exchange Rate; Situation or Environment

September 1987 (Revised November 1992)
Background Note

Note on Transaction and Translation Exposure

By: W. Carl Kester and Richard P. Melnick

Describes the transaction and translation exposures that companies doing business internationally face when foreign exchange rates change. Also discusses how to measure and cover both types of exposure. Covering techniques are demonstrated using examples of forward... View Details

Keywords: Currency Exchange Rate; International Finance

March 2011
Teaching Note

The Political Economy of Carbon Trading (TN)

By: Forest L. Reinhardt and J. Gunnar Trumbull

Teaching Note for 710056. View Details

Keywords: Climate Change; Globalization; International Relations; Problems and Challenges; Agreements and Arrangements; Risk Management; Developing Countries and Economies; System; United States; China

December 1982 (Revised November 2006)
Background Note

Note on Futures Contracts

By: David E. Bell

Provides an introduction to futures contracts, what they are, what their use in hedging is, and their usefulness in providing forecasts. Also covers basic risk. Includes a list of commodities currently traded in futures markets and the necessary properties of a... View Details

Keywords: Futures and Commodity Futures

05 Nov 2012
Research & Ideas

What Wall Street Doesn’t Understand About International Trade

firm trade decisions, even 60 years later," Cohen says. Analysts Take Note Having determined a causal effect, the team went on to look at the financial results of companies having View Details

Keywords: by Carmen Nobel

September 2002
Background Note

Note on WTO Disputes: Five Major Cases

By: David A. Moss and Nick Bartlett

Summarizes five major trade disputes before the World Trade Organization (WTO): (1) the Brazil-Canada aircraft dispute, (2) the European Union/United States foreign sales corporation dispute, (3) the Asian/United States shrimp and sea turtle dispute, (4) the United... View Details

Keywords: Trade; Conflict Management; Negotiation; Brazil; Canada; European Union; Asia; United States

Web

Influence of the China Trade and the Heard Legacy - A Chronicle of the China Trade

of the China Trade Introduction Doing Business with China Augustine Heard & Co. The Canton Trade Commodities & Currencies Treaty Ports & Compradors Clippers & Steamships Exploring View Details

February 2023
Teaching Note

The First Opium War and Global Free Trade

By: Jeremy Friedman

Teaching Note for HBS Case 722-052. View Details

September 2002 (Revised April 2004)
Background Note

A Note on Depositary Receipts

Provides an introduction to depositary receipts. Recently, these instruments have been used with increasing frequency by firms seeking to list their shares on stock exchanges in other countries, especially in the United States. Describes different types of depositary... View Details

Keywords: International Finance; Financial Instruments; Financial Markets