This book, an outcome of the conference in 1983 held at the University of Birmingham, examines the varied roles played by multinational corporations in the economies of the Third World countries and concentrates more closely on regional, national, sectoral or corporate levels.

This volume charts the ways in which multinational corporations contributed to the restructuring of the world economy, paying particular attention to the spatial consequences of, and responses to, their operations at a number of scales. The book takes as its theme the differential spatial outcomes of the restructuring of different types of multinational corporation.

Is the transnational coporation (TNC) an engine of growth capable of eliminating international economic inequalities or a major obstacle to development through a massive drain of surplus to advanced countries? This book presents five different perspectives on the role of TNCs: Neo-Classical Global Reach Neo-Imperialist Neo-Fundamentalist Internationalization of capital The author looks at their effect on local labour and capital, and considers the future prospects for TNC involvement in the Third World. The book provides an excellent comparative analysis of TNCs and will appeal to students in development studies and international economics.

The growth and impact of the multinational enterprise (MNE) in the post war period is one of the most important phenomena of our time. This volume, originally published in 1981 provides a comprehensive and detailed review of both the theoretical and policy issues at a time when the subject had reached a watershed, after the controversies of the 1970s. The book provides a balanced discussion of major themes such as the development of modern theories of international production; the impact of the MNE on the nation-state and the structure of the international market; the response of governments and the appropriate framework for policy measures; and the historical context and likely future of the MNE.

This book is a comprehensive study of the role of multinational corporations in the economies of the Third World. It begins by providing a comprehensive overview of the activities of multinational corporations and the main areas of research and debate. It goes on to discuss specific sociological, developmental and material effects on Third World countries resulting from involvement with multinational corporations. It includes case studies detailing the mid-twentieth century history and probable effects of specific multinational corporations’ involvement in Third World countries.

The book focuses on the major environmental implications stemming from the growth of the multinational enterprise in a multiple currency world; the international transfer of technology; industrial relations and labour utilization in foreign-owned firms in the UK; multinational companies and trade union interests; foreign direct investment, the balance of payments and trade flows; the multinational enterprise and developing countries; government policy alternatives and the problem of international sharing and a case study of a multinational enterprise in Europe. A survey of the background to the multinational enterprise and concluding summaries ensure that this book is one of the most widely embracing volumes available on the subject.

This book explores some aspects of the interface between technology, competitiveness and the role of multinational enterprises in the world economy. This group of essays stresses the role of asset creation and usage, rather than reliance on natural factor endowments as a basis for national competitiveness and examines the role of multinational enterprises as vehicles for technological transfer, and the efficient co-ordination of economic activity across national boundaries.