Global Business
Understand how global markets, geopolitics, and economic forces influence business decisions and growth. Learn on your schedule with 90 days of full access starting the day you enroll.
- Format
On-Demand
- Time
24-32 hrs, 6-8 hrs/module
- Price
$1,949
- Courses & Programs
- Global Business
Key Concepts
Build a foundation in macroeconomics to make more informed business decisions
Identify the challenges and opportunities that government and politics can create for you and your business from a strategic standpoint
Assess the impact of macroeconomic, political, and social indicators on business decisions
Discover the short- and long-term impact of interest rates, inflation, trade, and investment
Learn distinctive approaches and frameworks that help you think about the world and organize information
Who Will Benefit
Learn more about the broader macroeconomic and political landscape your organization operates in, so that you can develop business strategies that create and capture value.
In Global Business, we learned about currencies, exchange rates, and tariffs, and it helped a lot. It’s one of the reasons Aphrodite supports 50 currencies now.
Daniel Dietzel; CEO of Aphrodite at Aphrodite
What You'll Earn

Certificate of Completion
Boost your resume with a Certificate of Completion from HBS Online
Earn by: completing this course

Certificate of Specialization
Prove your mastery of strategy or business in society
Earn by: completing any three courses within either subject area to earn a Certificate of Specialization
Course Syllabus
4 Modules, 32 Hours, 90-day access window
Macroeconomic and Political Analysis
Interpret data on countries’ macroeconomic and political performance.
Inflation
Middle-Income Countries
Concepts
The World Is Big
Case: Unidentified Countries
Beyond a Country's Borders
Featured Exercises
Unidentified Countries Exercise (Measuring and Interpreting Economic Indicators)
Economic Conditions and Your Business
Understand the effects of taxation, government spending, and monetary policy on the business environment.
Exchange Rates
Hedging Exchange Rates with Christopher
Concepts
Fiscal Policy
Monetary Policy
International Influences
Labor Productivity
Featured Exercises
Current Accounts, Financial Accounts, and a Country’s Strategy
Hedging Exchange Rates
Political Order and Disorder
Understand the role of government in the modern economy and analyze political risks to business strategy.
Hedging Exchange Rates with Bryant
Welfare Economics
Concepts
The State
The Role of Government
Democracy and Alternatives
Long-Term Growth
Featured Exercises
The Median Voter Theorem
Sources of Long-Term Growth
Business and the Interconnected World
Understand how cross-border flows of goods and capital affect firms’ and nations’ competitive positions, and analyze the effects of environmental change on the competitive landscape.
Absolute Advantage - Static of Production Frontier
Water and Food
Concepts
Trade
Cross Border Investment
Immigration
Energy and Sustainability
Peace and War
Featured Exercises
Absolute vs. Comparative Advantage, the Production Possibilities Frontier, and Trade
Led by World-Renowned HBS Faculty

Forest L. Reinhardt
John D. Black Professor, Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Promotions and Tenure
Experience
Immersive Learning
Stay active by engaging in a new activity every three to five minutes and applying your knowledge through quizzes.
HBS Online courses allow you to immerse yourself in a
dynamic, interactive learning experience. You’ll engage in a new activity every
three to five minutes and apply your knowledge through polls, quizzes, and
problem-solving exercises designed to accelerate and reinforce your learning.
Real-World Connections
Get social by collaborating with a global community of peers before, during, and after your course. Learners who successfully complete an HBS Online program will be added to the HBS Online Community's Official Networking Group and gain exclusive access to events and other networking opportunities.
See how the HBS Online course platform engages you in social learning. You exchange ideas, offer input, and seek out viewpoints from a community of learners gathered from around the globe. In the process, you learn from each other’s experiences and perspectives, and leave the program with a broader outlook on the world.
Real-World Cases
Immerse yourself in real-world, case-based examples brought to life by industry-leading experts from companies like NatureSweet, H-E-B, Kerry Logistics, and Mahindra Group.
Our courses allow you to apply your learning through
real-world examples and experience Harvard Business School’s signature case
method. Business leaders will share challenges they’ve faced. As the story
unfolds, you’ll leverage course concepts, vital tools and frameworks, and the
diversity of your peers’ perspectives to analyze the problem and determine a
path forward.
HBS Online courses allow you to immerse yourself in a
dynamic, interactive learning experience. You’ll engage in a new activity every
three to five minutes and apply your knowledge through polls, quizzes, and
problem-solving exercises designed to accelerate and reinforce your learning.
Real-World Outcomes
Don’t be intimidated by the Harvard name or the price tag. Try one course; you’ll discover real value—not just in what you learn, but in the people you meet.
Ieva RužaMedical Doctor, Riga East Clinical University Hospital

Global Business FAQs
Free E-Book
How to Be a Purpose-Driven, Global Business Professional
In this guide, you’ll learn the skills needed to define your purpose, make the case for corporate social responsibility to internal stakeholders, further your education, and help enact change.

Solutions for Organizations
Empower Your Team with HBS Online
Bring HBS Online’s flexible, scalable, and high-impact learning experiences to your organization through shared learning and group discounts for teams of five or more.

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