2025/2026

Экономическая и регуляторная среда в странах Северо-Восточной Азии

Статус: Майнор

Кто читает: Департамент зарубежного регионоведения

Охват аудитории: для всех кампусов НИУ ВШЭ

Преподаватели: Шапошников Сергей Вячеславович

Язык: английский

Course Syllabus

Abstract

This course provides a comprehensive analysis of the economic and regulatory environments shaping business practices in Northeast Asia, with a particular focus on China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea. It explores how political systems, legal frameworks, business cultures, and economic environments shape opportunities and challenges for entrepreneurs and companies operating in the region. The course is structured in three parts. Part one- students are introduced to the concepts of globalization and international business, along with the key macro- and micro-level forces influencing business across Asia. This includes cultural, institutional, and regulatory factors that affect management practices, innovation, and entrepreneurship in Northeast Asia. Part two- this section explores the specific business models and corporate structures in major Asian economies such as China’s state-owned enterprises (SOEs), Japan’s keiretsu, Korea’s chaebol. It also highlights the importance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and family business in Northeast Asia. The third part focuses on real-world business activities in Asia. Topics include market entry strategies, investment models, setting up joint ventures and wholly foreign-owned enterprises, taxation, due diligence, human resource management, and compliance. Students will examine business etiquette, leadership styles, negotiation practices, team-building, and communication differences across cultures. Additional modules cover intellectual property, mergers & acquisitions, double-taxation treaties, free trade zones, and logistics challenges. Risk management, particularly related to sociopolitical factors and cultural misunderstandings, is also covered through case studies on China, Japan, South Korea. Through comparative case studies and practical assignments, students will gain a nuanced understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing international firms operating in this dynamic and diverse region.

Learning Objectives

• Develop a comparative understanding of state-business relations and regulatory frameworks in China, Japan, and South Korea;
• Analyze the institutional foundations and corporate structures in Northeast Asia, including chaebol, keiretsu, and state-owned enterprises (SOEs);
• Examine labor models and employment practices in both public and private sectors in Northeast Asia;
• Explore the influence of cultural and managerial differences on business behavior and decision-making in China, Japan, South Korea;
• Evaluate the business environment and competitive advantages of Northeast Asian economies with a focus on market entry, industry structure and consumer behavior;
• Introduce practical negotiation tools and cross-cultural communication techniques for working with Northeast Asian business partners;
• Build practical competence in engaging with international business activities and stakeholders across Northeast Asia.

Expected Learning Outcomes

• Identify and explain structural differences in the business environments, corporate governance models, and regulatory systems of China, Japan, and South Korea.
• Examine the institutional logic and business dynamics of chaebol, keiretsu, SOEs, and MSMEs
• Utilize cultural, institutional, and behavioral insights to navigate business negotiations, communication styles, leadership approaches and team-building strategies in Northeast Asian economies.
• Integrate economic, political, financial and cultural knowledge to propose viable strategies for foreign market entry and sustainable business development in Northeast Asian countries.
• Analyze the pros and cons of setting up different types of enterprises in Northeast Asian countries and compare business opportunities.
• Understand the core features of management and business behavior in Northeast Asian countries.

Course Contents

• Japan
• 1: Northeast Asia in the Global Economy
• 2 Government-Business Relations in Japan: Institutional Foundations and Regulatory Environment Role of METI, bureaucratic capitalism, industrial policy, regulatory bodies, and their influence on corporate decision-making.
• 3 Japanese Business Culture and Management Behavior Group harmony, long-term orientation, decision-making (ringi), seniority, and consensus. Comparative cultural dimensions.
• 4 Corporate Structures and Industrial Organization: The Keiretsu System Cross-shareholding, bank-centered corporate governance, supplier relationships, and coordination with government. Comparison with chaebol (Korea) and SOEs (China).
• 5 SMEs and Family Firms in Japan: Innovation and Continuity Role of small and medium enterprises in Japan’s economy; intergenerational succession; case studies of family businesses driving innovation.
• 6 Gender, Youth, and Innovation Ecosystems in Japanese Business Womenomics, aging population, youth employment, and the rise of startups. Corporate responses to demographic and social change. Lecture + Group Research
• 7 Risk Management, Legal Frameworks, and International Business Strategy Corporate governance, IP protection, contract enforcement, dispute resolution, and adapting to global uncertainty.
• 8 Cross-cultural Communication and Negotiation with Japanese Partners Business etiquette, negotiation tactics, indirect communication, and conflict resolution. Practical negotiation exercises.
• 9 Market Entry and Business Establishment in Japan Wholly owned subsidiaries, joint ventures, representative offices; tax regimes, due diligence, legal registration, and compliance. Russia-Japan business relations.
• SEMINARS 1
• SEMINARS 2
• SEMINARS 3
• SEMINARS 4
• SEMINARS 5
• SEMINARS 6
• SEMINARS 7
• SEMINARS 8
• SEMINARS 9
• South Korea
• .10 Brief Economic History of South Korea and South Korean Business
• 11 Social and Legal Features of South Korean Business and Cooperation with It
• SEMINARS 10
• SEMINARS 11
• China
• 12 China’s Economic Transformation and Place in Northeast Asia
• 13 Labor Market, Human Resource Management, and Compliance in China
• 14 Corporate Governance and Management Practices in Chinese Firms
• 15 Private Sector and SMEs in China: Navigating Market Entry and Competition
• 16 State Capitalism in China:
• 17 Negotiation Culture and Communication Strategies in Chinese Business
• 18 China’s Regulatory Environment, Innovation, and Tech Regulation
• SEMINARS 12
• SEMINARS 13
• SEMINARS 14
• SEMINARS 15
• SEMINARS 16
• SEMINARS 17
• SEMINARS 18

Assessment Elements

• Group project
  : An important part of the course will be a business consulting project. Students will work in groups (4 students max) to provide business advices to company’s senior management on a market entry/expansion issue that company is facing (companies will be chosen by students or advised by instructor). The grade for this component of the course will be based on a presentation (including Q&A) and a written report. Additional information will be provided in class. For a written report students should use appropriate formatting and citation style. Assignments are expected to be received by email no later than 11:59 p.m. on the due date (by email). Late reports will not be accepted. Students will receive a grade of zero for failing to correctly upload an assignment and on time. The written assignment must be formatted using 12-point Times New Roman font, with 1.5 line spacing and paragraph indentation (tabs) at the beginning of each paragraph in PDF format. The main body of the report should be no less than 30 pages in length. All sources must be properly cited in accordance with APA citation style. The assessment will be based on oral presentation and a written report: (1) Knowledge of main concepts/ theories applied in relation to international business; (2) Application of main theories and concepts; (3) Quality of content (company, product, country, findings, etc.); (4) Design/ logical flow/ clear thesis and supporting data; (5) Delivery: Written language and Command of language/ Team work and response to questions. Academic integrity policy Plagiarism in any form is strictly prohibited. All written work must be original and properly cited. If you use AI tools (such as ChatGPT or others), you must clearly state for what purpose the AI was used (e.g., idea generation, language editing, structure suggestions), and to what extent it contributed to the final version of your work. Failure to disclose the use of AI tools or submitting AI-generated content as your own without attribution will be treated as a violation of academic integrity.
• Class participation
  Students are expected to engage actively in every seminar. Each discussion will build on the corresponding lecture material and assigned readings must be completed in advance to enable meaningful classroom debate.
• Examination
  Final exam(online with proctoring, written exam)

Interim Assessment

• 2025/2026 2nd module
  0.3 * Class participation + 0.4 * Examination + 0.3 * Group project

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

• Griffin, R. W., Pustay, M. W. (2019). International Business: a Managerial Perspective. Global Edition, Pearson Education Limited.
• International business, Peng, M. W., 2011
• International business, Peng, M., 2019
• Kang, I. (2014). Kor 331: Business Korean I. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.BBA6B001

Recommended Additional Bibliography

• International business : a managerial perspective, Griffin, R. W., 2015
• Myths about doing business in China, Chee, H., 2004
• Success business in Japan : secrets to maximize, Holroyd, C., 1999

Authors

• SHAPOSHNIKOV Sergei Viacheslavovich