Department of International Economics, Government and Business

The department has two principal focus areas of research: 'Business and Government' and 'International Business'. Business and Government is rooted in the disciplines political science and political economy. International Business includes both the disciplines of international economics and international management. EGB conducts research within these principal focus areas and their interfaces, and is uniquely positioned to generate research in the intersection of these two focus areas. At the same time our area- and regional-specific expertise allows us to address challenges faced by emerging and advanced economies.

Principal focus area (I): Business and Government
Political science and political economy research at the department focuses on the intersection between business and government and how relations between business and government affect and are shaped by the surrounding political, economic, and societal environment. Faculty apply advanced quantitative and qualitative methods to generate systematic knowledge about business-government relations. The focus is on theoretically grounded empirical research that improves our understanding of government and the relations between business and politics – with practical relevance for policy makers.

Principal focus area (II): International Business
International management and international economics research at the department focus on the societal side of international business. Faculty combine an emphasis on methodological excellence with a drive for empirical impact and relevance and a keen sensitivity to the broader societal contexts in which multinational enterprise (MNE) activity is situated. To this end, International Business research at the department is informed by a range of theoretical and methodological traditions from international economics, and international management disciplinary fields.

Societal challenges
EGB’s principal focus areas support the development of interdisciplinary and transformative research projects in the context of societal challenges. Societal challenges are inherently complex. Not only are many of these challenges international or transnational in nature, most of them also involve, affect, and demand collaboration between a wide range of actors. As such, research on societal challenges ideally cuts across disciplines and different levels of analysis. Through a general thematic orientation towards societal challenges, EGB seeks to build and contribute to the development of a distinct and society-relevant research agenda, while leveraging the different disciplinary perspectives and a joint ambition for excellence at the department.

While societal challenges are inherently changing and dynamic, at present, research at the department resonates with six challenges in particular: (1) Business and democracy; (2) Technological change and digital transformation; (3) Regulating societal challenges; (4) The ethical MNE; (5) Emerging markets and rise of Asia; and (6) Business, global shifts and policy challenges. These thematic focal areas inform our research and funding activities, our dissemination activities, and serve as a point of departure for discussions with other departments on potential cross-cutting initiatives at CBS.