Talking the same languages
Article Abstract:
Foreign language competency is becoming an increasingly important skill for executives actively involved in the international business scene. Companies that are intent on enhancing their competitive advantage in the global market are realizing that the acquisition of a second language, and even a third one, is a vital requirement for executives. It is not sufficient anymore for businessmen to rely on their native language, or even English, as the language for conducting business. The emergence of a single European market, for one, is forcing many European companies to provide second-language training for its executives in order to keep pace with their counterparts in other European countries. For its part, the European Community has devised the Lingua and Petra programs to encourage and assist European firms in providing staff with second-language training.
Publication Name: International Management
Subject: Business, international
ISSN: 0020-7888
Year: 1992
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Nations that pay themselves more must produce more, and more efficiently
Article Abstract:
High labor costs and social charges are eroding the competitiveness of western European businesses. These companies are in danger of being overtaken by their Asian and South American competitors, some of whom are already able to produce at the same rate as their western counterparts but incurring considerably lesser labor costs. A ranking of the countries with the highest unit labor costs in 1991 shows Germany in the lead, with its costs being about 30% more that of the US. Germany is followed by Sweden, Denmark, Italy, France, and the Netherlands. Italy tops the list of countries with the highest social charges in proportion to wages, followed by Germany, France and Belgium. Although Portugal, Ireland, Greece and Spain have relatively low labor costs, these countries remain uncompetitive because of their poor labor productivity.
Publication Name: International Management
Subject: Business, international
ISSN: 0020-7888
Year: 1992
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
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