Multinationals Technology And National Competitiveness

This in-depth investigation examines the effects of multinationals on the competitiveness of industry in the UK. The work analyses how these firms gain access to technology, and questions whether multinationals, in their support of local technologies, improve the potential and competitiveness of local industry.

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.

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.

Multinationals are increasingly taking internationalised approaches to the ways in which they generate new knowledge and develop innovative new products from it in the pursuit of global competitiveness. These new perspectives in MNEs' technological behaviour open up important additional possibilities for those countries that play host to operations of these companies. This book analyses in detail the new dimensions in MNEs' approach to global competitiveness and the role played in this by overseas R & D units, and discusses the implications of this for host countries' growth and welfare.

This book provides an excellent overview of the changing relationship between multinationals and economic development as globalization has taken off, and substantially altered the conditions for catching up as opposed to falling behind. The authors move very effectively between the discussion of concepts that are crucial to understanding such changes, and various empirical evidence on foreign direct investment, trade, inter-firm relationships, institutional settings and competitiveness. John Cantwell, Rutgers University, US The globalisation of the world economy has undermined many of the old certainties regarding foreign direct investment flows. Dunning and Narula use the concepts of alliance capitalism and technological evolution to analyse recent trends in international business. They identify the challenges to government policymakers from regional integration, and the consequent intensification of political competition to attract high-technology investment. This masterful and incisive analysis brings great clarity to perplexing issues, and delineates a cogent industrial policy agenda for a globalised economy. Mark Casson, University of Reading, UK This book offers an important contribution to the contemporary debate on the role of multinational enterprises (MNEs) in economic development in an increasingly globalizing, knowledge-intensive and alliance-based world economy. Each of the chapters touches upon critical issues now facing the global economy. They also address the growing importance of innovative activities of firms in promoting economic development and industrial restructuring, as well as the role of FDI and cooperative agreements in furthering this goal. Emphasis is placed on the increasingly significant role of national governments in promoting the intellectual capital of their indigenous resources and capabilities, and of inter-firm collaborative alliances. Globalization and technological advances are reconfiguring the ingredients of the competitiveness of firms and nation states. They are emphasizing the increasingly important role of both private and social institutions as determinants of the success of corporations and of the economic development of societies. Covering a range of issues from economic development, alliance capitalism, government policies, regional integration and industrial development, this authoritative book will greatly appeal to academics and economists, especially those interested in international business and management.

The first volume in a major new series, this book will be an essential read for all those who need to deal with the causes and consequences of rapid technological change in an increasingly globalized world, whether they be government policy-makers, managers of multi-national corporations, commentators on the international scene or specialists in and students of international politics, economics and business studies. The authors discuss three related areas: * How do we think about technology and international relations/international political economy? How does technology relate to competitiveness? How does it inlfuence our culture and how is it influenced by it? * In what sense is technology a fundamental component of national competitive advantage and what ought national, local and corporate policy to be in the light of this? * What is the relationship between technological innovation and global political and economic change? Technology is discussed not just in an instrumental sense - as a tool of power and an object of policy - but equally in a transcendental sense - as a key to shaping and structuring how we understand and interpret reality. The final section of the book presents case studies of three core sectors of the world political economy, finance , aviation and automobiles.

The aim of this book is to contribute to a better understanding of those intermediate countries with specific reference to two relevant international areas; those countries of southern Europe whose dynamic is very much influenced by the phases of European construction, and in countries of Latin America where the opening up process has changed the traditional role played by multinational corporations.

Explores the development of Japanese multinational R & D laboratories