One World…Many, Many Government Policies

In a globalized world, corporations often pursue business deals in the countries with the least costs, not just from wages or property – but also in terms of policy regulations or taxes. Corporations look to low-tax nations to avoid all manner of taxes. And in some cases, corporations lobby their governments to erect barriers and prevent regulatory polices from other countries creeping into their territory. For example, the US financial markets are more heavily regulated than those in London – and British officials vow to reject such restrictions should NASDAQ from the US take over the London Stock Exchange. But corporations are fickle, demanding more regulation when it comes to protection of intellectual property – and the hefty profits secured from longstanding copyrights or patents. Corporations seeking to expand abroad often suspect that some governments enact and enforce environmental, safety or other regulations merely to keep foreign firms at bay. According to Irwin Stelzer in “The Weekly Standard,” corporations must understand a complex patchwork of regulations to compete in a globalized world. – YaleGlobal