Clipped Wings

Clipped Wings – The airline industry will continue to experience turmoil as business passengers in particular are slow to return. Casualty rates could be high - airlineupdate.com lists 90 airline failures and 7 mergers for 2008 and a further 31 failures and 6 mergers for 2009. We can expect 30-40 more failures and further mergers by the end of 2010.

Africa Bound

Africa Bound – In the search for new growth, businesses from developed and developing economies alike will make an aggressive push into markets across Africa. Entrepreneurs from Asia may fare better and see faster results as they are more able to adapt to local business practices to secure opportunities than less fleet-footed global firms.

Internationalism Becomes the Norm

Internationalism Becomes the Norm - In ‘Globalinc. An Atlas of The Multinational Corporation’, Mederd Gabel and Henry Bruner suggest that the number of multinationals has grown from 3,000 in 1990 to over 63,000 today – rising to 820,000 if affiliates are included[i]. This number is expected to accelerate in 2010 as would-be multinationals from China, India and other emerging nations seek a foothold and buy-up troubled businesses in key markets. At the same time, developed economy businesses not already abroad will be looking to enter emerging markets and form foreign partnerships in an attempt to overcome sluggish conditions at home.