Multinationals: The New Masters Of The Universe - The Rise Of The Multinational Company Began In 1945, And Just Kept Going. Frances Maguire Looks At The Impact The Multinational Has Had On The Globalisation Of Banking And On Treasury And Cash Management S.

Banker, The, January, 2006

The 100 biggest companies in the world control about 20% of foreign assets, and employ 6 million workers. Multi-national companies (MNCs) account for two-thirds of world trade, and one-third of world trade is intra-firm trade between branches of the same company. These MNCs account for more than 33% of world output.

In 1998 there were 53,000 MNCs with 450,000 foreign subsidiaries. The 100 biggest companies in the world may now account for as much as 7% of total world economic activity. The multinational company's role in the world today is an astounding development considering that they accounted for little more than 3% of world economic activity in the early 1950s. In the space of half a century, multi-national corporations have come from nowhere to achieve...

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