| Course | MAN-3720 International Management |
|---|---|
| Module | Module 2 |
| Paper type | Module 2 written assignment: the world economy |
| Length | About 580 words, 5 pages |
| Format | APA 7 student paper |
| School | Thomas Edison State University |
| Program | Bachelor of Science in Business Administration |
| Updated | October 2026 |
Free sample paper for MAN 3720 Module 2
Growth, Distance and a Water Purifier: Using the World Economy to Choose a First Export Market
Student Name
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Thomas Edison State University
MAN-3720: International Management
Mentor Name
Month Day, Year
Growth, Distance and a Water Purifier: Using the World Economy to Choose a First Export Market
Introduction
Our owners want one first export market, not several. A distributor in Vietnam has approached us, but the owners have asked whether Vietnam is the right choice or simply the first to call. This paper compares Vietnam with two other emerging markets where household water treatment is common, the Philippines and Colombia, using the economic indicators covered in Module 2.
How Economies Differ
The open text from Saylor Academy (2012) describes how countries can be grouped by income and stage of development and how emerging markets combine rapid growth with institutions still under construction. For our product, four indicators matter most. Income per person tells us whether households can afford a purifier priced at the equivalent of about $60. Growth tells us whether that group of households is expanding. The share of people living in cities matters because urban households are more likely to buy treatment devices rather than boil water. Openness and institutional quality affect how easily we can ship, get paid and enforce contracts.
Vietnam and the Philippines combine large populations with steady growth, while Colombia offers a more urban but slower-growing market. Vietnam's openness, built on export manufacturing and a series of trade agreements since it joined the World Trade Organization in 2007, means imported goods move through well-used channels.
| Indicator (recent public figures, rounded) | Vietnam | Philippines | Colombia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | About 100 million | About 115 million | About 52 million |
| Recent annual GDP growth | Roughly 5 to 7 percent | Roughly 5 to 6 percent | Under 2 percent |
| Urban share of population | About 40 percent | About 48 percent | About 82 percent |
| Trade openness | Very high; trade exceeds GDP | Moderate | Moderate to low |
| Ease of contract enforcement | Developing | Developing | Developing |
Globalization and the Middle Class
London and Hart (2004) argued that multinational firms entering emerging markets often fail when they simply transplant products and strategies designed for wealthy countries, and that success requires building local understanding and serving lower-income consumers in new ways. For a mid-priced household product, the important group is the expanding urban middle class: households with enough income to spend on health and convenience but too little to accept premium American prices. Vietnam's growth has been moving many households into that group, which makes demand likely to rise.
Distance Beyond Miles
Ghemawat (2007) argued that firms overestimate the similarity of foreign markets and proposed four kinds of distance: cultural, administrative, geographic and economic. On geographic distance, Colombia is closest to New Jersey. On cultural and administrative distance, it is also closer in some ways, such as the alphabet and time zone. But economic distance favors Vietnam and the Philippines, where our price point fits a large, growing group of buyers. Administrative distance is real in Vietnam, where product registration and import rules will take time, but the interested distributor reduces it by handling registration.
Recommendation
Vietnam is a sound first market, not only because a distributor called but because it combines growth, a large and expanding urban middle class, high openness to trade and a partner who reduces administrative distance. The Philippines should be the second market to study. Colombia's urban share is attractive, but slower growth and a smaller population make it a later option.
Conclusion
Reading the world economy turns a chance inquiry into a deliberate choice. Indicators of income, growth, urbanization and openness, joined with Ghemawat's broader idea of distance, support Vietnam as the company's first export market.
References
Ghemawat, P. (2007). Redefining global strategy: Crossing borders in a world where differences still matter. Harvard Business School Press.
London, T., & Hart, S. L. (2004). Reinventing strategies for emerging markets: Beyond the transnational model. Journal of International Business Studies, 35(5), 350-370. https://doi.org/10.1057/palgrave.jibs.8400099
Saylor Academy. (2012). International business. https://saylordotorg.github.io/text_international-business/
What the MAN 3720 Module 2 instructions ask for
MAN-3720's five written assignments, 40 percent of the grade, are not dated in the public syllabus, so the second sample is set beside the world economy module. Expect to explain how national economies differ, how globalization and trade agreements link them and how managers should use economic indicators in real decisions. The open texts from Saylor Academy and OpenStax supply the concepts. Use current figures from public sources such as the World Bank, round them honestly and explain what each indicator means for your firm rather than presenting a table without interpretation. Comparing several countries usually shows more than describing one.
How the MAN 3720 Module 2 example is put together
The paper begins with a decision the owners face: whether the country that called first is the right first market. It selects four indicators for a household product and explains why each matters. A five-row table compares Vietnam, the Philippines and Colombia with rounded public figures. London and Hart's research on emerging markets links growth to the urban middle class that can afford a mid-priced purifier. Ghemawat's four distances test the choice beyond miles, showing that the nearest market is not the closest in economic terms. The recommendation ranks the three markets and names the next one to study. The recommendation explains why the market that called first also turns out to be the strongest on the evidence.
Where the marks sit in the MAN 3720 Module 2 rubric
Mentors grade this assignment on understanding of the world economy, accurate use of economic indicators, application to a business decision, critical comparison and APA style. Papers earn credit for choosing indicators that fit the product and explaining what each shows. Comparing markets, rather than describing one, shows analysis. Using a framework such as Ghemawat's distances to look beyond economic data shows depth. A recommendation that follows from the evidence, with a second option, shows sound judgment. Figures should be current, rounded and attributed to reliable public sources. Mentors also credit honest handling of data limits, such as rounding figures and naming their sources, since economic data for emerging markets can vary by source and year.
Common MAN 3720 Module 2 mistakes, and how to avoid them
Common problems include long descriptions of globalization with no business decision, tables of statistics with no interpretation and figures from unreliable or outdated sources. Some papers assume an emerging market is attractive simply because it is growing. Choose a product and the indicators that matter for it, compare at least two markets and explain what each number means for sales or risk. Add one framework that goes beyond economics. End with a choice and a reason. For a free first draft of your MAN-3720 Module 2 assignment, send the product and markets you are weighing. Use the same indicators for every country, so the comparison is fair, and explain which indicator mattered most in your final choice.
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MAN 3720 Module 2 questions, answered
Where can I find a free MAN 3720 Module 2 sample paper?
The paper above compares Vietnam, the Philippines and Colombia as first export markets for a New Jersey water purifier maker.
Which economic indicators matter when choosing an export market?
Income per person, growth, urbanization, openness to trade and institutional quality, chosen according to the product being sold.
What is CAGE distance?
Four gaps between countries that Ghemawat says matter: differences in culture, in rules and politics, in physical distance and in wealth and costs.
Why do emerging markets matter for consumer products?
Growth moves many households into a middle class that can afford products such as home appliances for the first time.
When did Vietnam join the World Trade Organization?
In 2007, a step in a broader opening to trade and foreign investment.