What cultural factors must U.S. sports franchises overcome to increase popularity abroad? Why?
Across the globe, sports play a great role in most of the cultures that are found in the world. Most cultures attach certain values to the kind of sport they prefer most. They have sets of variables that a given sport must have their undivided support. Culture and society are very powerful determinants of how sports that are valuable to their people are perceived. It also determines which sport is most important to the community and dictates which team the population in general will cheer for (Andre, 1994). Culture and society have a direct influence on the popularity with regard to the different sports found in the country.
Cultures that are discriminative with regard to the religious affiliation of a player are bad. This is because the players will be dehumanised due to their faith. For instance if a talented Muslim player is harassed due to their religious orientation, the popularity of the sport that they engage in will be hindered. Negative customs is the other factor that will hinder the popularity of a sport globally which is another factor that sports franchise must evaluate. Society custom plays a great role in the popularity of a sport. Good customs will attract more fans to the sport either watching or even playing. The franchise on sport in the United States must ensure that their sports have good values attached (Yudelson, 2008). If good values are attached to a sport, its popularity in other part of the world will increase.
How can franchises ensure its products are appropriate for international markets?
The United States sports franchise has a duty to identify several things that will enable its product be preferred and appropriate with regard to the international markets. For the products to have a lasting impact to the international customers, they must ensure that the products are customer based. To achieve this objective, the franchise has to ensure that in all they do, the customer’s welfare is put as the first priority. The products must ensure they satisfy the interest of the customer fully since the consumers of the product are the heart and the determinants of their existence (Ocampo et al, 2007).
In addition to that the franchise must differentiate their products that are meant for the international markets. It is only if the products are differentiated that the sport franchise in the United States will have a better opportunity to compete with other rival companies in the business world. This is because by differentiating the products, their product will have a competitive edge as compared to their rivals in the world market.
The sports franchise will have to put into consideration the future of their goods in the international market. To this extent, the franchise will be required to come up with strategies that will enable them deal with the future generation where they will be set for the changes that are expected to take place. in addition to that, for the franchise to have good basis in the international market, it shall be require to be excellent in executing their operations, be consistent from the creation of an idea to communication and finally to the market.
Should governments protect its industries by placing tariffs on imported products? Why? Why not?
Tariffs are in most cases created by the government with the intention of protecting infant industries and economies that are developing. Tariffs are basically taxes added to cost of imported goods. The government has a duty to protect its industries by ensuring that the imported products are subjected to tariffs. There are several reasons as to why the government should impose tariffs on imported good. Among the reasons is to protect employment domestically. If imports were allowed to the local markets the local industries might consider lying off workers to cut on the costs which will translate to higher rates of unemployment (Irwin, 2002)
In addition to that, the government considers levying taxes on imported goods that it feels might endanger the population to ensure that the population remain safe. The infant industries of a country have to be protect to enable them grow. Therefore the government have a responsibility to protect them. On the other hand, tariffs may not be good for a country since they distort trade and different countries cannot achieve the maximum benefit from trade since their freedom is limited (Yudelson, 2008). However every country have to keep a certain level of tariffs to ensure that the interest of the electorates are honoured as well as ensuring essential contact with other trade partners are maintained.
References
Andre, T. (1994). European Retailing: : Convergences, Differences and Perspectives. International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management, 22, 5, 3-19.
Irwin, D. A., & National Bureau of Economic Research. (2002). Interpreting the Tariff Growth Correlation of the Late Nineteenth Century. Cambridge, Mass: National Bureau of Economic Research.
Ocampo, J. A., Kregel, J. A., Griffith-Jones, S., & United Nations Publications (Agency). (2007). International finance and development. Hyderabad, India: Orient Longman.
Yudelson, J. (2008). Marketing green building services: Strategies for success. Oxford: Elsevier/Architectural Press.
