Department of Business and Management Module

Department of Business and Management Studies

MSc International Business

Module

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Lecturer: ……………..

Submitted by: Please write your ID only

ID No: …………

Session: May 2025

PART ONE: Annotated Bibliography:

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Sustainability in the context of International Business

Chancel, L., 2020. Unsustainable Inequalities: Social Justice and the Environment. Harvard

University Press.

Chancel argues that environmental destruction and inequality go hand in hand: richer

groups are responsible for most ecological damage, causing poorer populations to suffer

economically and in terms of their environment. He showed that among all households, the top

10% produce nearly half of the carbon emissions, while the rest of the bottom 50% produce less

than 15% (Chancel, 2020). According to him, fair use of resources is only possible when the root

causes of inequality in wealth, consumption and carbon footprints are handled.

This study plays a key role in global business decisions. They should be aware that

disregarding labour rights when sourcing materials can harm people and nature. Based on

Chancel's data, companies are encouraged to offer fair wages, boost decarbonisation for

households with higher incomes, and aid the use of new technologies in poorer countries. Now,

businesses have to combine their environmental and social responsibilities.

Chancel relies on data collected from families and rigorous studies done in Brazil, India,

and other parts of the world. His statements are more convincing since he relies on peer-

reviewed data and shares his approach. The book focuses only on OECD+BRICS countries, so it

may oversimplify information from emerging economies; however, all the data is very

consistent, making the findings accurate and valuable.

Chancel uses CSR and sustainability guidelines to highlight the United Nations

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 10 and 13) and Global Reporting Initiative (GRI 305:

Emissions). Using Chancel’s indicators, IB practitioners can link them to double materiality

assessments required by CSRD and thus review a business's climate and social justice actions.

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Marquis, C., 2024. The Profiteers: How Business Privatizes Profit and Socializes Cost. Hachette

UK.

Marquis clearly describes how companies can increase their financial gains by shifting

burdens for the environment and society onto ordinary people. He argues that lax regulations and

different governing bodies worldwide allow today's business leaders to make profits at the

expense of society (Marquis, 2024). He points out how the loss of money due to social harm,

such as child labour, pollution, and evicting entire communities from their homes, is left out of

companies' financial statements and noticed by no one.

This relates to global capitalism: businesses find ways to play with regulations in several

countries when chasing profits for shareholders. The study demonstrates that if a company faces

more stringent regulations at home, it is incentivised to relocate its activities elsewhere. As a

result, it is tricky for world regulators and trade groups to bring alignment to the rules and tackle

loopholes that help well-known multinationals take advantage of customers.

His abilities include investigating, informing with academic knowledge and

understanding how systems like those in the EU and the U.S. differ in managing waste. He

ensures that many groups see the report as reliable by talking to regulators, those in the industry

and NGOs. Instead, by focusing primarily on well-known cases, he may make readers draw

conclusions that favour medium-sized companies.

The book connects to the ESG field, based on SASB standards for environmental matters

and the latest GRI guidelines on this topic. Investors want companies to account for the adverse

effects of their activities on the environment. Through his analysis, Marquis shows how true-cost

accounting can be used for planning strategy. When these insights are applied to measuring

sustainability, understanding the company’s impact and company governance, multinational

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enterprises strengthen their compliance and reliability in the eyes of global stakeholders and

regulators.

Chabowski, B. R., Gabrielsson, P., Hult, G. T. M., and Morgeson III, F. V. 2025. Sustainable

International Business Model Innovations for a Globalizing Circular Economy: A Review

and Synthesis, Integrative Framework, and Opportunities for Future Research. Journal of

International Business Studies, 56(3), pp. 383–402.

According to Chabowski et al., circular economy models in the international sphere

should contain four key aspects: (1) designing products for remake, repair or reuse; (2) teaming

up with companies from different countries to close the loops of materials in supply chains; (3)

applying new technologies like IoT, blockchain and data analysis to monitor and improve the use

of resources; and (4) using circularity to measure success in various company areas. This

framework draws from over 120 research studies about manufacturing, retail and services.

It supports MNEs in introducing circular methods by incorporating them into their global

activities. Through digital tracking, companies can operate a central reverse supply chain and

effectively handle the remanufacturing process, which often translates to cost savings. It also

recommends that circularity goals be included in executives’ salaries and that they follow

globally accepted standards for sustainability, such as EU Taxonomy and GRI 301–305.

The work is thorough and accurate because the authors follow PRISMA rules for the

literature search, describe their search terms in every database and apply bibliometric methods to

identify themes. The main ideas are strengthened by presenting leading examples such as Philips

and Patagonia. Its value extends to MNEs since it guides them to transform their supply chains

and incorporate circular ideas in their planning.

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Nevertheless, there are some restrictions. While the framework is mainly a theory,

empirical tests are based on a few case examples instead of studies involving many people

followed over the years. Issues about Western multinationals usually overshadow new circular

innovations in developing economies. Furthermore, there is a need to explore the reasons behind

difficulties in implementing global regulations across countries. Researchers should apply the

framework in different countries and across industries and examine the impact of various

institutions on promoting circular IB.

Rozalina, N., and Ellitan, L. 2024. Achieving Sustainability and Improving Global Business

Performance Through Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility: A Systematic

Literature Review. Eksis: Jurnal Riset Ekonomi dan Bisnis, 19(1), pp. 1–12.

Rozalina and Ellitan’s review looks at how business ethics and corporate social

responsibility practices impact the sustainability of international business. They review 85

respected studies conducted between 2015 and 2023 and find that three main patterns exist: (1)

ethical management (following set standards and being transparent), (2) building relationships

with stakeholders (working with communities, caring for employees) and (3) making CSR part

of core business strategies (using CSR to remain competitive).

The authors explain that adopting fair trade in sourcing reduces waste, cuts down

emissions, increases consumer and company loyalty, and lessens risks. They observe a

relationship between how vigorously companies focus on CSR and their financial results (such

as ROA and Tobin’s Q), hinting that acting ethically can bring benefits rather than extra costs.

The authors highlight that most empirical research covers large corporations from North

America and Europe, not Asia‐Pacific and Latin America. In light of this, researchers have

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proved that positive ethics leads to good performance in large market economies, but they have

not yet tested this link in emerging‐market MNEs.

Rozalina and Ellitan suggest that sustainable performance is possible when companies

blend the interests of their customers, suppliers, employees, communities and shareholders.

Porter and Kramer suggest using strategic CSR approaches (Shared-Value) to ensure that a

business follows ethical rules and survives over time. The review introduces IB managers to the

importance of ethical governance and focusing on stakeholders in CSR to promote sustainable

innovation, make their businesses different from others, and boost results worldwide.

KPMG 2024. The Move to Mandatory Reporting: KPMG's 2024 Survey of Sustainability

Reporting. Available at: https://kpmg.com/us/en/media/news/the-move-to-mandatory-

reporting-2024.html (Accessed 18 May 2025)

The 2024 Survey of Sustainability Reporting by KPMG notes that rules such as the EU’s

Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive and emerging U.S. regulations are pushing

sustainability disclosure to become mandatory, while there is a growing use of double materiality

checks to assess financial and impact aspects and 96% of G250 and 79% of N100 companies

now report on environmental, social and governance matters. Noteworthy is that investor and

regulatory pressures are leading to greater ESG adoption in Asia Pacific and Latin America.

According to the report, more and more companies rely on TCFD, IFRS S2 and the EU

Taxonomy for better assurance.

This research indicates that U.S. and multinational businesses should actively comply

with rules and align with new guidelines. Adopting ISSB and SASB standards before the SEC

rules allows U.S. companies an added advantage, whereas global companies should match their

reports with the requirements of CSRD, GRI, and each local exchange.

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KPMG's authority comes from assessing the actions of 5,800 national leaders and the top

250 companies globally. The range includes information on integrated reporting, assurance,

materiality, carbon targets, biodiversity, and additional subjects. The process involves a regular

questionnaire and ensures the validation of around 180,000 pieces of data using PRISMA.

Though the survey may not capture small companies well, the extensive coverage makes the data

reliable.

It relates to significant sustainability frameworks: GRI Standards help measure emissions

and governance issues; the new CSRD directive supports the double materiality approach and

requires assurance; and ESG principles impact investor decisions. When KPMG connects GRI,

CSRD, SASB, TCFD, and IFRS S2, IB practitioners can access valuable insights for improving

openness, business confidence, and future growth.

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References

Chabowski, B.R., Gabrielsson, P., Hult, G.T.M. and Morgeson III, F.V., 2025. Sustainable

international business model innovations for a globalising circular economy: a review

and synthesis, integrative framework, and opportunities for future research. Journal of

International Business Studies, 56(3), pp.383-402.

Chancel, L., 2020. Unsustainable inequalities: Social justice and the environment. Harvard

University Press.

KPMG, 2024. The Move to Mandatory Reporting: KPMG's 2024 Survey of Sustainability

Reporting. Available at: https://kpmg.com/us/en/media/news/the-move-to-mandatory-

reporting-2024.html (Accessed 18 May 2025)

Marquis, C., 2024. The profiteers: How business privatises profits and socialises costs. Hachette

UK.

Rozalina, N. and Ellitan, L., 2024. Achieving Sustainability and Improving Global Business

Performance Through Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility. Eksis: Jurnal

Riset Ekonomi dan Bisnis, 19(1), pp.1-12.

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Department of Business and Management Module

Department of Business and Management Studies

MSc International Business

Module

………………………

Lecturer: ……………..

Submitted by: Please write your ID only

ID No: …………

Session: May 2025

PART TWO: Article Review

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Department of Business and Management Module

Introduction

Mitchell, S. (2018). Amazon does not just want to dominate the market it wants to

become the marketthe Nation. In the article she published in 2018, Stacy Mitchell states that

Amazon has grown into more than a conventional retailer and now works to rule markets,

suppress competition, manage resources along the supply chain and shape how people shop. This

is very important for international business since Amazon impacts international trade, how goods

are delivered across borders and worldwide regulations. The way it participates in every part of

the value creation process questions the current understanding of market competition and

prompts us to rethink antitrust policies and what it means for a business to be sustainable. The

review investigates Mitchell's arguments by comparing her evidence to theories about monopoly

and platform economies in the academic world. While Mitchell clearly explains Amazon's

leading position in the market, she fails to recognise the company's contributions to new

developments and worldwide integration. Moreover, this transition marks a critical shift in the

global retail and platform economy landscape, foreshadowing key implications for international

business strategy.

Article Summary

Stacy Mitchell describes how Amazon has expanded from being an online bookseller to

having such a strong influence that it now guides diverse industries. She explains that Amazon

achieves its dominance by offering low prices due to its logistics system, bringing in small

businesses to use its platform and gain their practices and using this new knowledge to price

products low and wipe out its competition. He supports his arguments by describing how
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Amazon got into grocery stores by buying Whole Foods, offering its labels in several areas, and

using information from third-party sales to introduce similar items. Mitchell highlights that AWS

and digital media allow Amazon to reach areas outside its main retail business. In addition,

Mitchell points out that both the United States and the European Union have failed to control

Amazon's growth by giving antitrust authorities just limited attention. She emphasises

throughout the article that it can be dangerous when a single corporation has such a strong

influence worldwide on what is bought, sold and where goods are sourced. Mitchell uses

information from interviews, documents within the company and market data to confirm her

statements. The article mixes descriptions with statistics.

Critical Analysis

Market Power and Monopoly

Mitchell (2018) states that Amazon today is more than a retailer; it decides the costs, how

products move, and who has access to them. This claim supports Burchell's view that platforms

act as leaders, use network effects to their advantage and block competitors (Burchell, 2020). On

the other hand, Burchell's study (2020) shows that Amazon increases its power by benefiting

from ongoing platform growth. However, Ivanova (2020) argues that new niche platforms and

additional services can challenge dominant platforms despite high entry barriers. Mitchell's

argument about companies becoming too powerful is backed by U.S. Federal Trade Commission

data showing that Amazon leads in more than half of all retail sectors. The Commission also

recognised Google's position in the market, although it felt that existing antitrust enforcement,

focused on price and quantities, did not cover gatekeeping problems due to data (Pošćić, 2024).

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As a result, Mitchell's research points out that if competition law stays the same, it is unlikely to

protect people in digital markets from the harm that platforms cause.

Furthermore, Mitchell’s point on how Amazon uses its algorithms to alter search results

is similar to Moura’s explanation of how algorithms can bias the digital market (Moura, 2024).

Therefore, Amazon’s unclear recommenders affect what people buy and create an advantage for

products offered by Amazon itself. Using data and algorithms in this way strengthens

monopolies, a problem largely ignored by the Clayton Act regarding how it addresses issues.

Supply Chain and Labour Ethics

Mitchell (2018) reports that Amazon applies its power to how it treats workers and

vendors, requiring third-party sellers to enter into deals that reduce their profit. Henaway’s

findings back up this argument by showing that Amazon warehouse workers face many injuries

and are closely monitored (Henaway, 2023). Rikap (2022) further states that stakeholder theory

requires MNEs to prioritise the welfare of their employees even in the face of tough competition.

Unlike Mitchell's emphasis on means such as rebate demands and strict performance measures,

Rikap (2022) point out that firms should act ethically and apply fair labour standards beyond

following the rules set by society. Although Mitchell relies on interviewees and court documents,

Henaway’s research with over 2,000 workers is more statistically detailed. The issue is evident,

as Burchell (2020) encourages Amazon to help society by including social welfare in core

actions. However, the company’s CSR reports primarily discuss donations instead of work

reforms.

Moreover, Mitchell’s observations of how businesses rely on suppliers are similar to the

main idea of Kano et al. (2020) on global value chains. This model indicates that being the leader

in the industry allows Amazon to set quick shipping deadlines and charge higher prices for late
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items. Such a practice weakens suppliers and reduces the development of local businesses, going

against sustainable procurement ideas and harming the local economy (Vidani, 2024). Therefore,

Mitchell agrees with those who wish to include labour indicators in ESG metrics and enforce

codes of conduct for suppliers.

Innovation vs. Exploitation

Even while acknowledging Amazon's innovation in shipping and technology, Mitchell

describes these improvements as significant elements in Amazon's goal to dominate the market.

Vidani (2024) claims that the company's technology development increases productivity and

opens the AWS market to a broader range of small companies. Vidani (2024) acknowledges the

benefits of platform innovation, but Mitchell (2018) points out that these advantages may be

turned against competitors through predatory pricing and special deals. Digital platforms help

consumers by saving them money, but they also tend to take a large share of the economic pie

(Ivanova, 2020). As an illustration, AWS allows more users to utilise high-performance

computing, but it also depends on Amazon's APIs, making it harder to use different providers

(McGurl, 2021).

Additionally, Mitchell does not mention that some sellers on Amazon manage to expand

their niches by utilising the company's powerful support and analytics tools (McGurl, 2021).

Because of this, platform design can hinder and nurture new entrepreneurial ideas under certain

circumstances. Therefore, the main issue is how to keep anti-competitive acts under control

without negatively impacting the good things platforms bring to innovation. Responses to the

sector need to identify and separate actions that boost competition from those that create barriers

to it.

International Issues and Regulation

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Mitchell explains that in the United States, antitrust cases are limited by the narrow idea

of consumer welfare. In the EU, laws for data privacy do not address competition issues

(Mitchell 2018). As noted in this critique, Moura (2024) also recommends revising competition

law to factor in data control and network effects. In 2022, the EU passed the Digital Markets Act

(DMA), which makes platform firms follow ‘gatekeeper’ rules similar to the regulation

suggested by Mitchell’s article (Pošćić, 2024). On the other hand, U.S. lawmakers introduced the

American Innovation and Choice Online Act, but politics and lobbying have stopped its

enactment so far (Schur, 2022). As stated by Ivanova, inadequate institutions in less developed

countries enable Amazon to direct its operations in areas with fewer rules and very light

regulation.

Thus, Mitchell's proposal for unified international agreements becomes pressing:

According to Mcgurl (2021), arranging data portability, algorithm transparency, and fair

platform usage would limit Amazon's attempts to exploit national divisions; consequently,

Mitchell predicted the need for competition law that aligns with the unique issues of the platform

economy even though these changes were made later.

Arguments Strengths

Mitchell compellingly approaches the issue of Amazon's market dominance. She

completely reframes the company's market dynamics, viewing them from the perspective of a
participant and literally as a controller of market infrastructure. This article most compellingly
discusses how Amazon capitalizes on data asymmetries and self-preferencing by prioritizing its
own products on its platform over those offered by third-party sellers. Academic literature that
analyzes how digital platforms with market power utilize their privileged access to transactional
data to deepen market concentration further fortifies this concern (Cohen, 2017).

Mitchell demonstrates the relationship between Amazon's scale and the neglect of
regulation, which is another noteworthy point. She makes a solid case that the older antitrust
assessments based on pricing, especially for consumers, as opposed to structural dominance, are
no longer adequate for platforms disguised as monopolies. This rationale is also present in the

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work of Khan (2018), who has argued about the need to rethink antitrust measures regarding
digital platforms, where the harms are non-price-based, such as the barriers to entry and
innovation stifling.

Argument Weaknesses

Despite the convincing story that Mitchell provides regarding Amazon's attempts at
monopoly and monopolistic tendencies, it is clear that there is a lack of depth in analysis in
several areas. First, the article is too polemical, failing to consider Amazon's constructive
economic attributes. For example, the narrative ignores Amazon's role in improving supply chain
efficiency, creating employment opportunities, and lowering entry barriers for small sellers
through its Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) program. Zhu and Liu (2018) have observed that
although Amazon does practice self-preference, it also provides small businesses a gateway to
the global marketplace through its platform. This is an important nuance that Mitchell fails to
capture.

International Business Implications

Value Chain Amazon poses severe issues for international business, as value chain
deregulations for market surveillance, global competition, and platform governance are
important. Data ownership, vertical integrations like logistics, and cross-border supply chains
showcase the workings of digital multinationals that fall outside the reach of single-nation state
regulations. Such constitutes policy market control, which requires an internationally coordinated
response (UNCTAD, 2021).

Weak local platform alternatives and limited legal protections pose a distinct
disadvantage for developing economies. Amazon serves international consumers through access
but fosters high dependency through excessive fees, restrictive data access policies, competition
with private-label products, and granting controlled access. This subjects small and medium-
sized enterprises (SMEs) to greater market strain. Such divergence creates operational and
strategic complexities for cross-border e-commerce businesses. To successfully deal with digital
globalization, international practitioners need to construct new frameworks to assess value
creation, participation, and collaboration on platforms.

Conclusion

The review notes that the article skillfully presents Amazon's progress from a retail

company to a leader in multiple markets and outlines how it gained this power. Powerful stories,

input from people who exposed wrongdoing and new issues from the competition field make the

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book a convincing account of digital monopolisation. At the same time, the article tends to focus

on big companies and ignores the achievements and durability of smaller new players using

online platforms. While this study has many details, it could be further supported if analysis were

done on more large-scale data.

According to this analysis, international business companies must find ways to deal with

platform challenges and adapt to the changing digital world. Multinational organisations should

use advanced risk analysis to deal with predatory pricing and gatekeeping. They must choose

transparent governance models that conform to new ESG guidelines by involving stakeholders to

ensure they remain agile, fair, and ethical in their practices. When considering these factors in

the company's strategy, businesses can develop sustainable ideas and maintain their standing and

future in the market. A comparison of digital markets in emerging nations may show new

patterns of how such platforms are controlled and how they can help everyone grow.

Policymakers should work together to align data portability across countries, increase antitrust

measures for companies with strong networks and set rules for global platforms.

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Reference List

Burchell, J., 2020. The corporate social responsibility reader. Routledge.

Cohen, J.E., 2017. Law for the platform economy. UC Davis Law Review, 51(1), pp.133–204.

Federal Trade Commission (FTC). (2020). FY 2020 Federal Trade Commission Agency

Financial Report. Available at:

https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/reports/agency-financial-report-fy2020/

ftc_fy2020_agency_financial_report.pdf (Accessed 19 May 2025)

Henaway, M., 2023. Amazon’s distribution space: constructing a ‘labour fix ' through digital

Taylorism and corporate Keynesianism. ZFW–advances in economic geography, 67(4),

pp.202-216.

Ivanova, N.V., 2020, October. The future of retail: Innovations and basic trends. In Innovative

economic symposium (pp. 157-163). Cham: Springer International Publishing.

Kano, L., Tsang, E.W. and Yeung, H.W.C., 2020. Global value chains: A review of the multi-

disciplinary literature. Journal of International Business Studies, 51(4), pp.577-622.

Khan, L.M., 2018. Amazon: An infrastructure service and its challenge to antitrust. Harvard

Law Review, 132(3), pp.710–775.

McGurl, M., 2021. Everything and less: The novel in the age of Amazon. Verso Books.

Mitchell, S., 2018 Amazon doesn’t just want to dominate the market – it wants to become the

market. The Nation. Available at: https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/amazon-

doesnt-just-want-to-dominate-the-market-it-wants-to-become-the-market/ (Accessed 19

May 2025)

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Moura, R.L., 2024. Abuse of dominance in digital markets: the Amazon case (Master's thesis,

Universidade do Minho (Portugal)).

Pošćić, A., 2024. The Digital Markets Act: Ensuring More Contestability and Openness in the

European Digital Market. InterEULawEast: Journal for the international and European

law, economics and market integrations, 11(1), pp.269-288.

Rikap, C., 2022. Amazon: A story of accumulation through intellectual rentiers and

predation. Competition & Change, 26(3-4), pp.436-466.

UNCTAD (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development), 2021. Digital Economy

Report 2021: Cross-border data flows and development: For whom the data flow.

Geneva: United Nations. Available at: https://unctad.org/webflyer/digital-economy-

report-2021 [Accessed 29 May 2025].

Vidani, J., 2024. E-Commerce Supply Chain Efficiency: A Case Study of Amazon E-Commerce

Company. Available at SSRN 4849852.

Zhu, F. and Liu, Q., 2018. Competing with complementors: An empirical look at Amazon.com.

Strategic Management Journal, 39(10), pp.2618–2642. https://doi.org/10.1002/smj.2926

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