Discuss the importance of the country’s location in political and trade relationships.

The physical characteristics of a nation are a strong determinant of its society and the means undertaken to supply its needs.Describe the four elements of geography: location, topography, climate, and natural resources.Discuss the importance of the country’s location in political and trade relationships.Do surface features of the country contribute to economic, cultural, political, and social differences among different regions of the country?What are the influences of inland waterways and outlets to the sea?Does the climate influence business and/or the marketing mix?What has been the influence of discovery and use of mineral resources and energy sources?Discuss changes in the country’s infrastructure and its potential influence on business.What has been the impact, if any, from industrial disasters, or what is being done to protect against such events?SOCIOCULTURAL FORCESCulture is the sum total of the beliefs, rules, instructions, and artifacts that characterize human populations.Cultural aspects – Describe the cultural aspects in regard to art, drama, music, folklore, dance, and architecture.Attitudes and beliefs – Describe this in relation to work, family, self, and change. Identify social status, gender, race, or minorities as these characteristics apply to jobs, promotions, etc.Religion – What are the dominant religions and practices in the country or a region within the country?Material culture – This refers to man-made objects and reflects the degree of economic (material) development and the standard of living. For example, a rich country with high per capital gross national product (GNP) is likely to enjoy a high level of technology.Education – What are the attitudes, literacy rate, educational system, and achievements?Communication – What is the dominant language or dialect spoken in the country? What are the characteristics, meaning, and unspoken language, i.e., expressions, gestures, etc., of which the multi-national company (MNC) manager must be aware?Business protocol – Identify or give examples of the nature of business conduct or expectations.Implications for international business – Based on your research, summarize barriers and opportunities for locating business opportunities. Of what factors should MNC managers be aware?