Elevated political and economic risk in 2008, Aon finds

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 nonpayment 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.
“I have noted a significant increase in the number of CEOs, CFOs and chief risk officers who are seeking a greater understanding of how their businesses are at risk in an increasingly complex global environment versus their primary risk concerns 10 years ago,” Bryan Squibb, managing director of Aon Trade Credit Global, said in a release.
“Risk is one of the fundamental drivers of the global economy, and misunderstanding it can be fatal to a business.”