ABSTRACT
The end of the Cold War in 1989 and the buoyant financial activities of the last decade of the 20 century opened the door for an accelerated expansion of global commerce and solidified attention on potentially billions of new consumer markets primarily in Asia and Africa. Unlike in the 20th century, emerging economies today have easier access to hard currency, manpower, and know-how, which makes them more independent from Western foreign aid. Western companies are also being subjected to strict environmental laws and are expected to invest more in the development and environmental safety of the local communities in which they operate. In January 2013, General Electric (GE) released its annual Global Innovation Barometer, which specifically examined what factors business executives believe to be drivers and deterrents of innovation. It analyzed approaches and policies that enable innovation and drive growth.
