Global forces shape national and local environments, the extent of political co-operation and economic integration will influence foreign direct investment (A long term commitment to marketing in a foreign nation through direct ownership of a foreign subsidiary or division), the degree of importing and exporting, the transfer of knowledge and technology, migration of customers or employees and goods and services - this will have implications for country and organisational diversity, the size of the market and opportunity, the cost to the business as influenced by tariffs, economies of scale and extent of standardisation - it will affect where the organisation can source its raw materials and transformational resources and where it locates various aspects of its operations - it can also effect economies in terms of tax, interest and inflation rates as well as FX rates