Module description
This module introduces students to the role of multinational enterprises in the world economy, their way of functioning, and their impact on local development. Multinational enterprises account for the vast majority of trade and investment flows across countries. They generate skilled jobs, transfer sophisticated managerial techniques, and stimulate demand for local inputs. They can help local economies acquire skills and technology through mechanisms such as spillovers and knowledge transfers. However, such positive impacts do not always materialize. Multinational enterprises can also be responsible for unethical behaviour, supporting corrupt and oppressive regimes, or damaging the environment. Or simply operate in insulated enclaves, where they purchase minimal inputs from local providers and pay low or zero taxes. Multinational enterprises work across highly globalized value chains, which combine a global production structure with local arrangements in terms of product, process and logistic arrangements. The objective of the module is to help students understand the global structure of production of multinational enterprises, and its effects on local economic development in different countries, areas and sectors.
Assessment details
Coursework;presentation/s
2000 words Written Essay (40%), 8000 words Group Project with presentation (60%)