AIB Journals Podcast

This podcast argues that International Business (IB) education must evolve beyond traditional classroom theories to address the wicked problems of the 21st century, such as climate change and global inequality. The authors propose an integrated pedagogical framework that combines experiential learning, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and a focus on societal impact to prepare students for a fragmented global landscape. Ultimately, the study suggests that by bridging the gap between academic research and real-world practice, IB programs can empower future leaders to drive sustainable value creation rather than just corporate profit. Citation: Avendano, J., Usta, H., & Kundu, S. K. (2026). Enhancing International Business Education Through Faculty Development in International Business Programs. AIB Insights. https:/​/​doi.org/​10.46697/​001c.155724.

This study examines how the mandatory disclosure of the CEO-to-employee pay ratio affects corporate behavior, specifically finding that firms with high ratios often face negative reactions from consumers and employees. Rather than significantly lowering executive pay, many companies respond to these transparency requirements by subtly adjusting their workforce or outsourcing low-wage roles to improve their reported numbers. Ultimately, while intended to curb inequality, the authors argue that without broader institutional pressure, these disclosures may lead to strategic window-dressing rather than a fundamental shift in how wealth is distributed within global corporations. Citation: Jiang, K., Jia, Y., Tsui, A.S., & Yu, J. (2026). CEO-to-employee pay ratios, societal-level income inequality, and citizens’ subjective well-being. Journal of International Business Studies. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41267-026-00841-2

French and EU policies promoting a circular economy have prompted multinational textile lead firms to integrate minor, compliance-driven adaptations into their existing linear models, though these changes rarely alter the geography of their global production networks. In contrast, "born-circular" firms embed sustainability at their core and attempt to build regional supply chains, yet they remain limited in scale due to significant technical and commercial constraints. To bridge these operational gaps, a new ecosystem of "middle-of-the-chain" intermediaries has emerged to facilitate recycling, repair, and the transition toward more localized, inter-sectoral value chains. Citation: Curran, L., & Joltreau, T. (2026). The impact of circular economy policies on business models within global value chains: a study of the French textile industry. Journal of International Business Policy. https://doi.org/10.1057/s42214-025-00238-2

What does it really take to set yourself on the path toward a meaningful and impactful research career during your PhD? Through the lens of sensing, seizing, and transforming as mechanisms for navigating developmental opportunities, this episode explores how doctoral students, can move beyond core PhD training to build the skills, networks, and scholarly identity needed for impactful research careers. We unpack practical “scaffolding techniques,” from interdisciplinary exposure and international experiences to strategic co-authorship, peer review, and methodological training, that help bridge the gap between core academic training and real-world relevance. Join us as we discuss how the next generation of scholars can navigate institutional barriers to contribute more effectively to the global community. Citation: Boncheva, K., Gadhia, M., Mans, T., Morales Marenco, M. J., Shukran, K., et al. (2025). Sensing, Seizing, Transforming: A Student Perspective on Enhancing IB Doctoral Education for Meaningful Scholarship. AIB Insights, 25(5). https:/​/​doi.org/​10.46697/​001c.153860.

This podcast explores how managers in Multinational Enterprises (MNEs) navigate the matrix of conflicting demands between global headquarters and local subsidiaries. The authors identify how complex reporting lines and shifting corporate priorities can trap managers in a cycle of ambiguity, hindering effective decision-making and strategic agility. To break free, the paper suggests that firms must simplify their organizational structures and empower local leaders to prioritize market responsiveness over rigid internal bureaucracy. Citation: Conroy, K.M., & Collings, D.G. (2026). Trapped in the MNE matrix: liminal identity at the local–corporate–global nexus. Journal of International Business Studies. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41267-025-00817-8

Voluntary sustainability standards, which set private rules for ethical and green production, diffuse most successfully in countries with robust trade, technical assistance, and financial institutions that help local firms manage the high costs of compliance. While strong social protection systems also correlate with a higher presence, the research reported in this podcast surprisingly found no link between a country's environmental stewardship and the adoption of these standards. Ultimately, these results suggest that global sustainability organizations act as extensions of corporate sourcing strategies, prioritizing locations with the business infrastructure necessary to make "sustainable" production commercially viable. Citation: Ferretti, T., Manivannan, A. & Marques, J.C. (2026). Advancing the understanding of voluntary sustainability standard organizations’ geographic diffusion: the role of national institutions in global agrifood. Journal of International Business Policy. https://doi.org/10.1057/s42214-025-00233-7

In today’s episode, we explore how artificial intelligence is sparking a revolutionary energy transition across the African continent. Today, we examine how "collaborative governance", which is a partnership between state governments and private businesses, can overcome infrastructure gaps and financial hurdles to power a more sustainable future. Join us as we discuss how smart grids and predictive analytics are not just high-tech dreams, but essential tools for bringing reliable electricity to millions. Citation: Kearns, S., & Maksimov, V. (2025). Leveraging Artificial Intelligence in Africa’s Energy Transition: A Collaborative Governance Perspective. AIB Insights. https:/​/​doi.org/​10.46697/​001c.146526.

In this episode on climate vulnerability, we dive into the surprising ways our changing planet is reshaping the global financial landscape. Today, we explore how a country's climate vulnerability and its ability to adapt can lead to sudden, dramatic crashes in individual stock prices. Join us as we discuss why the "bad news" managers hide today could become the market-shaking crises of tomorrow. Citation: Ni, X., Si, Y. & Zhang, B. (2025). Climate vulnerability and stock price crash risk worldwide. Journal of International Business Studies. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41267-025-00831-w

Today, we dive into the World Investment Report 2025 to uncover how artificial intelligence and national security concerns are fundamentally reallocating international capital. Join us as we discuss the urgent challenges of the expanding digital divide and the critical need for sustainable investment in an increasingly fragmented world. Citation: Giroud, A., Puck, J. & Puhr, H. (2026). World Investment Report 2025: international investment in the digital economy. Journal of International Business Policy. https://doi.org/10.1057/s42214-025-00234-6

This podcast dives into the high-stakes geopolitical tug-of-war over Latin America’s critical minerals, where the U.S. and China are deploying rival strategies such as the Belt and Road Initiative to the Minerals Security Partnership to secure the resources powering the global energy transition. This podcast uncovers how nations like Chile, Bolivia, and Argentina are leveraging this competition, swinging between resource nationalism and open-market policies to demand value-added industrialization rather than just raw extraction. This podcast offers a crucial playbook for multinational enterprises, revealing how to navigate complex regulations like the Inflation Reduction Act while forging local partnerships that survive the crossfire of superpower rivalry. Citation: Li, J., Shapiro, D. & Vecino, C. (2025). Geopolitics, Host Country Policy, and Critical Mineral Investment in Latin America. AIB Insights. https://doi.org/10.46697/001c.146203 Jing Li, Daniel M. Shapiro, Carlos Vecino

Gender wage discrimination is a grand challenge that constrains economic growth worldwide and denies women fair opportunities. Yet, we know surprisingly little about how women’s own experiences of wage discrimination steer their career decisions. The article discussed in this podcast episode adopts the perspective of job-seeking women and argues that prior exposure to wage discrimination reshapes their employer preferences. Citation: Sofka, W., Grimpe, C. & Kaiser, U. (2025). Gender wage discrimination and the attractiveness of foreign MNC subsidiaries as employers for women. Journal of International Business Studies. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41267-025-00811-0

Discover how firms are transforming from passive victims of geopolitical disruptions into active agents capable of shaping the very political environments that constrain them. This podcast unpacks a new model that traces how shocks from trade wars to military conflicts filter through specific institutional mechanisms like sanctions and media narratives that inform firms’ strategy and performance. Join us in this podcast to learn why some firms aren't just surviving these disruptions, but are engaging with them head-on. Citation: Andrews, D.S., Puhr, H. & Knill, A. (2026). Transmission of geopolitical shocks to firm behavior: a synthesis and integrative model. Journal of International Business Policy. https://doi.org/10.1057/s42214-025-00232-8

Join us as we explore how multinational enterprises can wield their immense power to end exploitative practices and finally make "decent work" a reality rather than just a pipe dream. This podcast breaks down a new actionable framework designed to protect marginalized communities, including migrant workers and the LGBTIQ+ community, by enforcing strict supply chain accountability and leveraging transparency technology. This podcast can be your blueprint for moving beyond corporate rhetoric to implement concrete strategies like living wages and inclusive hiring that truly transform global operations. Citation: Röell, C., Ocampo, A., & Özbilgin, M. F. (2025). From Pipe Dream to Meaningful Action: How MNEs Can Deliver Decent Work. AIB Insights. https:/​/​doi.org/​10.46697/​001c.145892.

While the world fixates on the economic damage caused by trade wars, a new study reveals how "outsider" multinational firms are quietly turning geopolitical chaos into a massive growth opportunity. This podcast explores how companies, like Volkswagen and Airbus, which are from neutral nations, are leveraging their outsider status to aggressively scale up operations inside conflict zones like China, capitalizing on cheaper assets and reduced competition from American rivals. Join this podcast to discover why possessing a vast global network, strong local partnerships, and favorable bilateral agreements are the ultimate keys to transforming trade barriers into competitive windfalls. Citation: Ma, H., & Clougherty, J.A. (2025). Third-country MNEs, trade wars, and competitive opportunities: a real-options perspective. Journal of International Business Studies https://doi.org/10.1057/s41267-025-00821-y

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 for the future of business strategy. This podcast is your guide to understanding how tailored policy tools such as financial incentives and strict regulations can transform supply chains from drivers of ecological damage into powerful engines for restoration and resilience. Citation: Bass, A.E., Bu, M. & Sartor, M.A. (2025). Reconceptualizing global value chain impact on the natural environment: a framework for integrating context, upgrading, and downgrading with policy implications. Journal of International Business Policy. https://doi.org/10.1057/s42214-025-00227-5

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 “win-win-win” partnerships can turn innovation into meaningful change for communities that need it most. Citation: Prashantham, S. (2025). MNE–SME Engagement for the SDGs. AIB Insights. https://doi.org/10.46697/001c.144863.

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 noise. It’s an energetic look at how science can be more open, transparent, and collaborative, proving that even messy data stories can yield real insight when many minds work together. Citation: Delios, A., Hu, T., Yu, S. et al. (2025). The insights from the crowd: Drawing inferences from many approaches to key empirical questions in international business. Journal of International Business Studies. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41267-025-00808-9

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. (2025). Contemporary transitions in the international activities of startups and their policy implications. Journal of International Business Policy. https://doi.org/10.1057/s42214-025-00226-6

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, respecting traditions, and teaming up across governments, NGOs, and businesses to build fair and lasting opportunities. Citation: Paul, K. (2025). Lessons to Learn from Informal and Home-Based Business in Africa. AIB Insights. https://doi.org/10.46697/001c.144333.

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 them away. Citation: Berry, H., Chauvin, J., Cheng, Y.L., & Lee, N. (2025). The global sourcing of green products. Journal of International Business Studies. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41267-025-00801-2