 |
Center for International Business Education and Research C I B E R N E W S |
|
|
Center for International Business Education and Research C I B E R N E W S |
2 February, 1998 Volume 8, Number 7
| Did you know? Over 1/3 of the Fall 1997 MBA Class was composed of International Students. Chinese Students were the largest of the group, followed by India and Korea. |
International Business Forum Covers Canadian Tax Laws
On 13 January, the International Business Forum welcomed Canadian tax consultants David Gardner and James Balfe as speakers for the monthly luncheon presentation. Both chartered accountants with the Windsor, Ontario firm Collins Barrow, the speakers offered the informative session "International Business Opportunities in Canada." Gardner began the presentation with advice for those who may be considering doing business in Canada. First, he discussed differences between Canadian and U.S. tax rates for corporations and individuals, describing their tax structures at both the federal and provincial levels. According to the Canada-U.S. Tax Convention, Gardner explained, only U.S. companies having a permanent establishment in Canada are required to file Canadian taxes. On an individual level, Canadian citizens residing outside of Canada are not required to pay Canadian taxes, making tax havens like the Cayman Islands very popular. Balfe then began his portion of the presentation by discussing common methods of starting a business in Canada. The most popular method, he said, was to incorporate the company, a process which can be accomplished quickly, sometimes in a matter of a day or two. Balfe went on to discuss specific requirements in areas such as payroll deductions, pension plans, unemployment and health insurance, sales tax, workers' compensation, and corporate liability. When asked to pinpoint a major reason for doing business in Canada, Gardner and Balfe replied that, assuming a relatively constant exchange rate, Canada is a fairly low-cost place to conduct business. In addition, the speakers noted that Canada's educated work force, due to its high level of secondary education, makes the country particularly attractive. However, the disadvantage Balfe gave for doing business in Canada was that the country "has been more highly regulated," although he believes these barriers are currently being reduced. To conclude, the speakers fielded questions from the audience, and in an effort to get us all thinking about spring, raffled off a box of golf balls. Their presentation was followed by a visit to MSU's International Business Center, and a tour of MSU's Eli Broad College of Business. International Business Forums are monthly luncheon presentations sponsored by the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce and MSU-CIBER for the area international business community. For more information and reservations, please contact Linda Peterson at (517) 487-6340 ext.33. |
In January, students from the Eli Broad College of Business headed to Mexico to participate in the first semester of a new study abroad program with ITESM University, located in Queretaro, Mexico. The students are taking classes in areas such as organizational behavior and comparative dimensions in business, as well as Mexican culture and Spanish courses. While studying, they live with Mexican families.
ITESM was chosen as the location for this new program, in part due to the priority the private, 17 year-old college places on globalization (some classes are offered in English.) Professor Gary Ragatz, MSU's coordinator of the program, hopes that the program will eventually be offered in both the fall and spring terms and might lead to possible internships with local firms located in industrial Queretaro. Future plans may also include expanding the program to include other ITESM campuses.
The MSU-ITESM program is reciprocal, meaning that ITESM students also come to MSU to study. Students who are interested in obtaining more information about this program should contact the Office of Study Abroad at (517) 353-8920 or check out their web site at http://www.bus.msu.edu/undergrad/.
Note: Space is still available in the new study abroad program "Retail Distribution Systems in Russia and Poland" being offered May 16-29. For more information, please contact Judy Osbun of Merchandising Management at (517) 353-2938.
The following presentations are cosponsored by MSU CIBER and the Department of Economics. Please call (517) 355-7583 for more details.
5 February: The Japanese Financial Crisis and Its Relationship to the "Asian Flu," by Dick Beason, Visiting Scholar, Bank of Japan & Professor of Economics, University of Alberta. 1:30-3:30, Spartan Room B, Crossroads Food Court.
23 March: A Dynamic Macroanalysis of NAFTA, by Michael Kouparitsas, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.
30 March: Foreign Direct Investment Decisions of Firms Involved in Antidumping Decisions, by Bruce Blonigen, University of Oregon.
2 April: A. Banerjee, MIT, (topic to be announced at a later date).
The month of January brought a few changes to our staff. First, we said goodbye to receptionist Angie Frank, who was with the Center for six years. After finishing her classes in Airline and Travel Agency Operations, Angie took a position in Cleveland, Ohio with the MTI company. We wish Angie all the best in her new life, and thank her for years of dedication to the Center. Good luck, Angie!
On a happier note, the Center would like to welcome new student assistants Stephanie Van Ochten and Amanda Moore.
Finally, we would like to congratulate doctoral candidate and staff member M.B. Sarkar on being selected by the Institute for the Study of Business Markets to receive the 1997 ISBM Business Marketing Doctoral Support Award for his proposal, "Partnering Orientation: An Investigation of the Construct, its Antecedents, and Outcomes." He was named as an ISBM Business Marketing Doctoral Fellow, and will receive substantial support for his research. Congratulations, M.B.!
Listed below are some of the upcoming international business events hosted by the Michigan Jobs Commission.
Latin America Trade Seminar, Weber Inn, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 18 February.
Opportunities in Argentina, Brazil, Chile & Mexico (automotive, auto-related).
Contact Janet Clark (517) 373-6212.
Central Europe Seminar, Dearborn, Michigan, 10 March.
Opportunities in Poland, Hungary & the Czech Republic.
Contact Deana Rose (517) 241-2471.
Foreign Sales Corp (FSC) Seminar, Michigan, 18 March.
How to Establish a FSC to Lower Corporate Federal Income Tax (automotive and auto-related).
Contact Patricia VanderVoord (517) 335-5884.
South Africa Trade Seminar, Lansing, Michigan, 2 April.
Opportunities in South Africa.
Contact Kay Zeleznik (517) 241-1372.
Southeast Asia Seminar, Novi, Michigan, 28 April.
Opportunities in Growth Markets of S.E. Asia (including Thailand, Indonesia, & Malaysia) & Update on Market Readjustments in Area (automotive).
Contact Kay Zeleznik (517) 335-5884.
China Trade Seminar, Dearborn, Michigan, 21 May.
Seminar on China Automotive Market Opportunities.
Contact Deanna Rose (517) 241-2471.
China Trade Seminar, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 30 July.
Seminar on China Market Opportunities.
Contact Deanna Rose (517) 241-2471.
|
The Eli Broad Graduate School of Management International Business CenterMichigan State University Eppley Center 645 N. Shaw Ln Rm 7 East Lansing, MI 48824-1121 USA Exec Director's Office N356 North Business Complex Tel (517) 432-4320 FAX (517) 432-4222 IBC Office Eppley Center 645 N. Shaw Ln Rm 7 East Lansing, MI 48824-1121 Tel (517) 353-4336 FAX (517) 423-1009 http://ciber.bus.msu.edu |
UPCOMING EVENTS
|
Contact MSU-CIBER