Multinationals face elevated political and economic risk levels in 2008

Multinational organizations face elevated political and economic risks in 25 of the 50 largest global economies, according to an analysis released by Aon Trade Credit Global.

Such risks include business interruption caused by war, terror attacks and political interference, Aon reports.

Political and economic risk is highest in the oil-rich nations of Iran, Nigeria and Venezuela, where businesses face civil unrest, war, terrorism and non-payment by governments for services rendered, Aon notes in a release announcing the results of its 2008 Political and Economic Risk Map.

Terror attacks, crippling regulatory changes or strikes and civil unrest are very real risks in nations whose economies are among the fastest-growing, while they represent a relatively lower risk in the world’s wealthiest nations, the release notes.

Companies doing business in Russia face an increased degree of state control in the natural resources sector, while the global risk management community is increasingly concerned about supply chain risk in Asia, Aon notes.