Multinational companies help the host companies. (State with reason whether the given statement is true or false)
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Benefits of Multinational Corporations
Create wealth and jobs around the world. Inward investment by multinationals creates much needed foreign currency for developing economies. They also create jobs and help raise expectations of what is possible.
Their size and scale of operation enables them to benefit from economies of scale enabling lower average costs and prices for consumers. This is particularly important in industries with very high fixed costs, such as car manufacture and airlines.
Large profits can be used for research & development. For example, oil exploration is costly and risky; this could only be undertaken by a large firm with significant profit and resources. It is similar for drug manufacturers who need to take risks in developing new drugs.
Ensure minimum standards. The success of multinationals is often because consumers like to buy goods and services where they can rely on minimum standards. i.e. if you visit any country you know that the Starbucks coffee shop will give something you are fairly familiar with. It may not be the best coffee in the district, but it won’t be the worst. People like the security of knowing what to expect.
Products which attain global dominance have a universal appeal. McDonalds, Coca-Cola, Apple have attained their market share due to meeting consumer preferences.
Foreign investments. Multinationals engage in Foreign direct investment. This helps create capital flows to poorer/developing economies. It also creates jobs. Although wages may be low by the standards of the developed world – they are better jobs than alternatives and gradually help to raise wages in the developing world.
Outsourcing of production by multinationals – enables lower prices; this increases disposable incomes of households in the developed world and enables them to buy more goods and services – creating new sources of employment to offset the lost jobs from outsourcing manufacturing jobs.
Criticisms of Multinational Corporations
Companies are often interested in profit at the expense of the consumer. Multinational companies often have monopoly power which enables them to make excess profit. For example, Shell made profits of £14bn last year.
Tax avoidance. Many multinationals set up companies in countries with the lowest tax rate. They funnel profit through the countries with lowest corporation tax rates – e.g. Bermuda, Ireland, Luxemburg. For example: in 2011, Google had £2.5bn of UK sales, but only paid £3.4 million UK tax. A tax rate of 00.1% despite having a global-wide profit margin of 33%. (tax avoiding companies) This means the multinationals are ‘free-riding on smaller companies who cannot attain the same creative tax accounts.
Cash reserves – Apple has cash reserves of $216bn, 93% of which is overseas. This represents deadweight welfare loss. It is not being used for investment
Their market dominance makes it difficult for local small firms to thrive. For example, it is argued that big supermarkets are squeezing the margins of local corner shops leading to less diversity.
In developing economies, big multinationals can use their economies of scale to push local firms out of business.
In the pursuit of profit, multinational companies often contribute to pollution and use of non-renewable resources which is putting the environment under threat.
‘Sweat-shop labour’ MNCs have been criticised for using ‘slave labour’ – workers who are paid a pittance by Western standards.
Outsourcing to cheaper labour-cost economies has caused loss of jobs in the developed world. This is an issue in the US where many multinationals have outsource production around the world.
Create wealth and jobs around the world. Inward investment by multinationals creates much needed foreign currency for developing economies. They also create jobs and help raise expectations of what is possible.
Their size and scale of operation enables them to benefit from economies of scale enabling lower average costs and prices for consumers. This is particularly important in industries with very high fixed costs, such as car manufacture and airlines.
Large profits can be used for research & development. For example, oil exploration is costly and risky; this could only be undertaken by a large firm with significant profit and resources. It is similar for drug manufacturers who need to take risks in developing new drugs.
Ensure minimum standards. The success of multinationals is often because consumers like to buy goods and services where they can rely on minimum standards. i.e. if you visit any country you know that the Starbucks coffee shop will give something you are fairly familiar with. It may not be the best coffee in the district, but it won’t be the worst. People like the security of knowing what to expect.
Products which attain global dominance have a universal appeal. McDonalds, Coca-Cola, Apple have attained their market share due to meeting consumer preferences.
Foreign investments. Multinationals engage in Foreign direct investment. This helps create capital flows to poorer/developing economies. It also creates jobs. Although wages may be low by the standards of the developed world – they are better jobs than alternatives and gradually help to raise wages in the developing world.
Outsourcing of production by multinationals – enables lower prices; this increases disposable incomes of households in the developed world and enables them to buy more goods and services – creating new sources of employment to offset the lost jobs from outsourcing manufacturing jobs.
Criticisms of Multinational Corporations
Companies are often interested in profit at the expense of the consumer. Multinational companies often have monopoly power which enables them to make excess profit. For example, Shell made profits of £14bn last year.
Tax avoidance. Many multinationals set up companies in countries with the lowest tax rate. They funnel profit through the countries with lowest corporation tax rates – e.g. Bermuda, Ireland, Luxemburg. For example: in 2011, Google had £2.5bn of UK sales, but only paid £3.4 million UK tax. A tax rate of 00.1% despite having a global-wide profit margin of 33%. (tax avoiding companies) This means the multinationals are ‘free-riding on smaller companies who cannot attain the same creative tax accounts.
Cash reserves – Apple has cash reserves of $216bn, 93% of which is overseas. This represents deadweight welfare loss. It is not being used for investment
Their market dominance makes it difficult for local small firms to thrive. For example, it is argued that big supermarkets are squeezing the margins of local corner shops leading to less diversity.
In developing economies, big multinationals can use their economies of scale to push local firms out of business.
In the pursuit of profit, multinational companies often contribute to pollution and use of non-renewable resources which is putting the environment under threat.
‘Sweat-shop labour’ MNCs have been criticised for using ‘slave labour’ – workers who are paid a pittance by Western standards.
Outsourcing to cheaper labour-cost economies has caused loss of jobs in the developed world. This is an issue in the US where many multinationals have outsource production around the world.
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Justification of the statement '' Multinational companies help the host companies'' is as follows:
- The following statement is true because host companies gets help from MNC.
- Many benefits are provided by multinational companies to host companies. MNC helps in developing the host labour force's quality.
- Most of time more products are created and more revenues are received by multinational companies and the invest in highly skilled workers.
- After leaving MNC, the skills and experiences are taken by them to host companies.
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