Individual Assignment:

For Individual Assignment (B), each student will need to prepare a 3000-word (excluding bibliography) critical literature review on the key ideas and concepts of transaction costs theory (covered mainly in topics 5-7) and explain to what extent do you think such a theory can provide MNEs guidance on how to choose between different modes of international business organization when expanding overseas (e.g. the choice between export and FDI)?

To address the assignment question, you should first develop a solid understanding of the key ideas and concepts of transaction costs theory through a rigorous, extensive and critical literature review of the relevant academic publications, and then analyse and synthesize what you have learned from existing literature into your own arguments, based on which you can then provide a clear and convincing answer to the assignment question. It should be noted that simply reviewing what others have argued in the existing publications is necessary but not sufficient for the purpose of addressing the assignment question. You should build upon existing literature to develop your own original ideas and arguments in order to provide a clear and strong answer to the assignment question. To provide a rigorous review and critique, you are expected to read widely and incorporate at least 20 different references from academic publications (including books, book chapters, articles, and conference papers etc.)

- Word limit: 3,000 words (excluding bibliography)

- Format: essay

- Reference style: Harvard style preferred, but we do not insist on a particular reference style as long as you are consistent