By Mrs Hilton for revisionstation

• To be able to discuss how multinationals have contributed to an improvement in local living standards, employment and economic growth in overseas countries
• To be able to answer past paper questions based on the topic

• From what you know – would you consider that MNEs are good for the poorer countries that they operate in?

• Incoming multinationals bring FDI (Foreign Direct Investment
• MNEs Create jobs
• New investment will increase output of goods & services
• Any extra output sold abroad, thus increasing exports, also imports could be reduced
• Taxes paid increases government funds enabling them to improve their services
• An efficient multinational might make high-quality products available at lower prices than there were previously found, helping consumers
• Increased competition
• Improved trade flows

• A multinational company, sometimes called a transnational corporation, is a company that owns or controls production or service facilities in more than one country.
• You may see it written as:
– MNC – multinational corporation or company
– MNE – multinational enterprise
– These are both the same
Great website with videos and activities

• Multinationals are a beacon of global capitalism
, bringing employment, income and new technologies to poorer countries, driving up incomes and aiding development.
• In return wealthier countries (Like UK) get cheaper goods.
• Can you argue against?

• Most of the largest
MNEs are US, Japan, or
European
• India and China growing rapidly
• Example Tata
• Tata:

• Domestic market saturated, profits from expansion overseas is tempting
• Extension strategy for the product life cycle
• PMI (Phillip Morris
International) and BAT have aggressive expansion in developing markets

• Economies of scale
• Lower unit costs
• Enhanced competitive advantage
• Especially if products can be standardised across markets
• Available, cheap adaptable labour see
Global services location
Index (Most attractive offshore destinations)

Creates employment
Improves infrastructure
Increases skills base
Positive effects
Improves balance of payments
Increased standard of living
Raises country’s profile
Video

• Creates employment
• There are jobs available for local people, thus reducing numbers of unemployed and the resultant drain on local resources
• Increases skills base
• Many MNCs operate training schemes for local people to learn how to use machinery. Such skills also attract other firms to the country
• Increased standard of living
• An increase in earnings increases taxes paid within the country and gives more money to spend on services

• Raises country’s profile
• MNCs plan their moves carefully. This is known worldwide and the movement into a particular country is a statement about its pro-business environment and political stability.
• Improves balance of payments
• Many goods made by MNCs are exported to other nearby countries. This increases amount of money earned by the country.
• Improves infrastructure
• MNCs often improve communication links within a country, e.g. road, rail and port facilities are updated and expanded. This benefits the country.

• FDI stands for Foreign Direct Investment. Foreign direct investment is investment of foreign money into domestic structures, equipment, and investment in businesses and organisations based in the host country
• FDI creates direct, stable and long-lasting links between economies. It encourages the transfer of technology and know-how between countries, and allows the host economy to promote its products more widely in international markets.
• FDI is also an additional source of funding for investment and, under the right policy environment, it can be important for the development of the economy of the country.

• Evaluate the likely impact of multinationals on the economic growth of countries such as
Chile. [12]

• e.g Chile is a developing economy, greater development of Chile’s
Infrastructure
• e.g. job creation given Foreign direct investment (FDI) e.g. Technology and skills transfer may lead to improved domestic businesses and economic growth. Alternatively downside may be developed to show damaging effect on economic growth e.g. Competition and possible loss of production for domestic rivals, race to the bottom
• e.g. employment created may be only temporary or of menial variety, profits repatriated, limited technology and skills transfer e.g. evaluation becomes more sophisticated perhaps with short term contrasted with long term etc. Multinationals may be contrasted with one another with different outcomes for growth. Tradeoffs may be considered such as environmental damage vs. long term supplies of cheap power to aid economic growth.

[15]

2
3
Level
1
4
Mark awarded
1-2
3
4-7
8-15
Knowledge
Application
Analysis
Evaluation

e.g. defines multinationals or identifies aspects of economic development such as living standards e.g. any specific examples illustrating the points made such as
BP and the Gulf of Mexico, or Microsoft and Egypt e.g. FDI, job creation, technology transfer, multiplier effects, raising productivity and wages OR negative aspects such as environmental damage etc.
At this level candidates may just contrast the positive and negative effects of multinational activity, e.g. wages higher than local employers yet cause further inequality of incomes.
e.g. weighs relative significance of points raised such as employment and incomes are often more important to the unemployed than some externalities

[6]

Knowledge 2, Application 2, Analysis 2
Knowledge: up to 2 marks (one for each reason) for identifying possible reasons. e.g. government incentives, infrastructure, skills/education of workforce, part of EU
Application: up to 2 marks (one for each reason) for contextual answers such as linking the above specifically to
London or Britain, e.g. familiarity with the English language, access to EU markets, time zone and access to skilled labour.
Analysis: up to 2 marks (one for each reason) are for developing the reasons e.g. government incentives such as grants or tax concessions may be greater in the UK which reduce costs and can increase profitability.

[6]

Knowledge 2, Application 2, Analysis 2
Knowledge: up to 2 marks are available for stating two reasons why a government might want to attract FDI, e.g. increased employment/reduce unemployment, increased investment from other MNCs, GDP growth etc.
Application: up to 2 marks are available for relating the above to the context e.g. Croatia is getting ready for EU accession, evidence shows current negative growth and unemployment of 9.5%
Analysis: up to 2 marks are available for consideration of why this might lead to growth e.g. jobs are created, extra incomes are earned which leads to multiplier effect and economic growth. If only one reason cap at 3 marks