French and EU policies promoting a circular economy have prompted multinational textile lead firms to integrate minor, compliance-driven adaptations into their existing linear models, though these changes rarely alter the geography of their global production networks. In contrast, "born-circular" firms embed sustainability at their core and attempt to build regional supply chains, yet they remain limited in scale due to significant technical and commercial constraints. To bridge these operational gaps, a new ecosystem of "middle-of-the-chain" intermediaries has emerged to facilitate recycling, repair, and the transition toward more localized, inter-sectoral value chains.

Citation: Curran, L., & Joltreau, T. (2026). The impact of circular economy policies on business models within global value chains: a study of the French textile industry. Journal of International Business Policy. https://doi.org/10.1057/s42214-025-00238-2

What does it really take to set yourself on the path toward a meaningful and impactful research career during your PhD? Through the lens of sensing, seizing, and transforming as mechanisms for navigating developmental opportunities, this episode explores how doctoral students, can move beyond core PhD training to build the skills, networks, and scholarly identity needed for impactful research careers. We unpack practical “scaffolding techniques,” from interdisciplinary exposure and international experiences to strategic co-authorship, peer review, and methodological training, that help bridge the gap between core academic training and real-world relevance.

Join us as we discuss how the next generation of scholars can navigate institutional barriers to contribute more effectively to the global community.

Citation: Boncheva, K., Gadhia, M., Mans, T., Morales Marenco, M. J., Shukran, K., et al. (2025). Sensing, Seizing, Transforming: A Student Perspective on Enhancing IB Doctoral Education for Meaningful Scholarship. AIB Insights, 25(5). https:/​/​doi.org/​10.46697/​001c.153860.

This podcast explores how managers in Multinational Enterprises (MNEs) navigate the matrix of conflicting demands between global headquarters and local subsidiaries. The authors identify how complex reporting lines and shifting corporate priorities can trap managers in a cycle of ambiguity, hindering effective decision-making and strategic agility. To break free, the paper suggests that firms must simplify their organizational structures and empower local leaders to prioritize market responsiveness over rigid internal bureaucracy.

Citation: Conroy, K.M., & Collings, D.G. (2026). Trapped in the MNE matrix: liminal identity at the local–corporate–global nexus. Journal of International Business Studies. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41267-025-00817-8

Voluntary sustainability standards, which set private rules for ethical and green production, diffuse most successfully in countries with robust trade, technical assistance, and financial institutions that help local firms manage the high costs of compliance. While strong social protection systems also correlate with a higher presence, the research reported in this podcast surprisingly found no link between a country's environmental stewardship and the adoption of these standards. Ultimately, these results suggest that global sustainability organizations act as extensions of corporate sourcing strategies, prioritizing locations with the business infrastructure necessary to make "sustainable" production commercially viable.

Citation: Ferretti, T., Manivannan, A. & Marques, J.C. (2026). Advancing the understanding of voluntary sustainability standard organizations’ geographic diffusion: the role of national institutions in global agrifood. Journal of International Business Policy. https://doi.org/10.1057/s42214-025-00233-7

In today’s episode, we explore how artificial intelligence is sparking a revolutionary energy transition across the African continent. Today, we examine how "collaborative governance", which is a partnership between state governments and private businesses, can overcome infrastructure gaps and financial hurdles to power a more sustainable future. Join us as we discuss how smart grids and predictive analytics are not just high-tech dreams, but essential tools for bringing reliable electricity to millions.

Citation: Kearns, S., & Maksimov, V. (2025). Leveraging Artificial Intelligence in Africa’s Energy Transition: A Collaborative Governance Perspective. AIB Insights. https:/​/​doi.org/​10.46697/​001c.146526.

In this episode on climate vulnerability, we dive into the surprising ways our changing planet is reshaping the global financial landscape. Today, we explore how a country's climate vulnerability and its ability to adapt can lead to sudden, dramatic crashes in individual stock prices. Join us as we discuss why the "bad news" managers hide today could become the market-shaking crises of tomorrow.

Citation: Ni, X., Si, Y. & Zhang, B. (2025). Climate vulnerability and stock price crash risk worldwide. Journal of International Business Studies. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41267-025-00831-w

Today, we dive into the World Investment Report 2025 to uncover how artificial intelligence and national security concerns are fundamentally reallocating international capital. Join us as we discuss the urgent challenges of the expanding digital divide and the critical need for sustainable investment in an increasingly fragmented world.

Citation: Giroud, A., Puck, J. & Puhr, H. (2026). World Investment Report 2025: international investment in the digital economy. Journal of International Business Policy. https://doi.org/10.1057/s42214-025-00234-6

This podcast dives into the high-stakes geopolitical tug-of-war over Latin America’s critical minerals, where the U.S. and China are deploying rival strategies such as the Belt and Road Initiative to the Minerals Security Partnership to secure the resources powering the global energy transition. This podcast uncovers how nations like Chile, Bolivia, and Argentina are leveraging this competition, swinging between resource nationalism and open-market policies to demand value-added industrialization rather than just raw extraction. This podcast offers a crucial playbook for multinational enterprises, revealing how to navigate complex regulations like the Inflation Reduction Act while forging local partnerships that survive the crossfire of superpower rivalry.

Citation: Li, J., Shapiro, D. & Vecino, C. (2025). Geopolitics, Host Country Policy, and Critical Mineral Investment in Latin America. AIB Insights. https://doi.org/10.46697/001c.146203