Can foreign aid do more than support development and pull businesses into new markets? This podcast looks at how grants, loans, equity investments, and other forms of aid influence where multinational firms invest, how many projects they launch, and how many jobs they create. The big surprise is that aid structured more like investment can be especially powerful in attracting private companies.

Citation: Mahamed, S., Zilja, F. (2026). Foreign aid modalities and MNEs’ investments. Journal of International Business Policy. https://doi.org/10.1057/s42214-026-00256-8

In this podcast, we unpack China's unprecedented demographic shockwave as its massive workforce shrinks by millions of people each year. Hear how top global brands are turning this crisis into an opportunity by deploying cutting-edge technologies and catering to a booming multitrillion-dollar senior market. Join us to find out how businesses are radically transforming the workplace to keep older adults thriving while moving factory lines to younger Asian neighbors.

Citation: Chand, M. (2026). China’s Demographic Transition: Insights for MNEs Dealing with Aging Workforces. AIB Insights. https://doi.org/10.46697/001c.163601.

Think all populist governments are bad for international business? Think again. In this episode, we unpack how populist regimes influence where multinational corporations invest, and why not all populist governments pose the same threat to foreign investment.

We break down:

• The Risk Spectrum: Why risk levels vary drastically across different populist regimes.
• Regime Choices: How a regime’s business orientation and immigration stance shift corporate calculus.
• Country Alignment: Why the relationship between a company’s home country and host government can make or break an investment deal.

Citation: Jandhyala, S., Kunczer, V. & Lindner, T. (2026). Populism, regime characteristics, and MNC location choice. Journal of International Business Studies. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41267-026-00878-3

When companies from emerging economies expand overseas, we usually expect their home country to benefit too. This podcast takes us to Mexico, where the evidence reveals a surprising downside: investment in richer countries can reduce the demand for higher-skilled workers back home, at least in the short run. It is a fascinating story about how going global can create winners abroad while producing unexpected consequences at home.

Citation: Ibarra-Olivo, J.E. (2026). Outward FDI effects in emerging economies: the curious case of skill downgrading at home in Mexican regions. Journal of International Business Policy. https://doi.org/10.1057/s42214-026-00249-7

As artificial intelligence shifts from basic operations to delivering autonomous strategic recommendations, corporate boardrooms are entering a new era of algorithmic governance. However, a critical governance gap remains, as many companies deploy these advanced tools without clear ethical or legal frameworks. These risks can be addressed by a comprehensive four-pillar framework and a four-stage operational process designed to help board members effectively oversee AI and make reliable data-driven decisions.

Citation: Anwar, Ch. M. (2026). The Algorithmic Boardroom: AI-Driven Governance and Strategic Decision Making. AIB Insights. https://doi.org/10.46697/001c.157710.

This podcast explores how global corporations manage disruptions from sudden geopolitical conflicts and international sanctions. Using the 2022 Russia-Ukraine war as a real-world case study, we unpack how and why some multinational companies completely pull out of Russia, while others freeze or continue operations. Get ready to discover how companies navigate the threat of "cross-border stigma" and reconfigure their core business capabilities to survive geopolitical disruptions.

Citation: Sawant, R.J., Ameyaw, AK., Treviño, L.J. & Li, Y. (2026). Multinational enterprises’ strategic responses to geopolitical tensions and sanctions. Journal of International Business Studies. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41267-026-00891-6

In this podcast, we explore the wild demographic split dividing our planet, where aging superpowers rapidly shrink while developing nations experience massive youth booms. You will discover how global businesses navigate this divided landscape by relocating capital and adopting smart automation just as national borders tighten. Tune in to see how leaders must completely rethink global trade and policy before this demographic divide triggers massive economic turmoil.

Citation: Beugelsdijk, S., Narula, R. (2026). Navigating a demographically bifurcated multipolar world: labor, capital, and the multinational firm. Journal of International Business Policy. https://doi.org/10.1057/s42214-026-00252-y

This episode uncovers the "career shock" felt by experts when war suddenly turns their specialized knowledge into a professional liability. We follow the journey of professionals whose identities were shattered by the Russia-Ukraine conflict, revealing how they pivoted from being "insiders" to finding entirely new roles. It’s a powerful look at individual resilience and the surprising ways people reinvent themselves when the geopolitical ground shifts beneath their feet.

Citation: Outila, V., Piekkari, R., & Reade, C. (2026). Rising from the Ashes of Geopolitical Conflict: New Career Identities of Finnish Experts on Russia. AIB Insights. https://doi.org/10.46697/001c.159468.