STEP 1: CONSIDERING EXPORTING You are here: Step 1: Considering exporting > The various environments you will encounter abroad > The political environment . Top of Form search Bottom of Form site sear ch by freefind Email this page The political environment No matter how attractive the economic prospects of a particularcountry or region are, doing business there might prove to be financially disastrous if the host government(s) inflict(s) heavy financial penalties on a company or if unanticipated events in the political arena lead to the loss of income-generating assets. The political environment in which the firm operates (or plan to operate) will have a significant impact on a company's international marketing activities. The greater the level ofinvolvement in a foreign markets, the greater the need to monitorthe political climate of the countries business is conducted. Changes in government often result in changes in policy and attitudes towards foreign business. Bearing in mind that a foreign company operates in a host country at the discretion of the government concerned, the government can either encourage foreign activities by offering attractive opportunities for investment and trade, or discourage its activities by imposing restrictions such as import quotas, etc. An exporter that is continuously aware ofshifts in government attitude, will be able to adapt export marketing strategies accordingly. Nearly all governments today play active roles in their countries' economies. Although evident to a greater or lesser extent in most countries, government ownership of economic activities is still prevalent in the former centrally planned economies, as well as in certain developing countries which lack a sufficiently well developed private sector to support a free market system.