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

Gender wage discrimination is a grand challenge that constrains economic growth worldwide and denies women fair opportunities. Yet, we know surprisingly little about how women’s own experiences of wage discrimination steer their career decisions. The article discussed in this podcast episode adopts the perspective of job-seeking women and argues that prior exposure to wage discrimination reshapes their employer preferences.

Citation: Sofka, W., Grimpe, C. & Kaiser, U. (2025). Gender wage discrimination and the attractiveness of foreign MNC subsidiaries as employers for women. Journal of International Business Studies. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41267-025-00811-0

Discover how firms are transforming from passive victims of geopolitical disruptions into active agents capable of shaping the very political environments that constrain them. This podcast unpacks a new model that traces how shocks from trade wars to military conflicts filter through specific institutional mechanisms like sanctions and media narratives that inform firms’ strategy and performance. Join us in this podcast to learn why some firms aren't just surviving these disruptions, but are engaging with them head-on.

Citation: Andrews, D.S., Puhr, H. & Knill, A. (2026). Transmission of geopolitical shocks to firm behavior: a synthesis and integrative model. Journal of International Business Policy. https://doi.org/10.1057/s42214-025-00232-8

Join us as we explore how multinational enterprises can wield their immense power to end exploitative practices and finally make "decent work" a reality rather than just a pipe dream. This podcast breaks down a new actionable framework designed to protect marginalized communities, including migrant workers and the LGBTIQ+ community, by enforcing strict supply chain accountability and leveraging transparency technology. This podcast can be your blueprint for moving beyond corporate rhetoric to implement concrete strategies like living wages and inclusive hiring that truly transform global operations.

Citation: Röell, C., Ocampo, A., & Özbilgin, M. F. (2025). From Pipe Dream to Meaningful Action: How MNEs Can Deliver Decent Work. AIB Insights. https:/​/​doi.org/​10.46697/​001c.145892.