Their critics portray them as bullies, using their heft to exploit workers and natural resources with no regard for the economic well-being of any country or community. Their advocates see multinationals as a triumph for global capitalism, bringing advanced technology to poorer countries and low-cost products to the wealthier ones. Both of these stereotypes have some truth to them. But it would be wrong to portray the multinational corporation as either good or evil.
Companies become multinational in many different ways and for many different reasons.
Their impact on the global economy is far from simple to determine. There is no doubting that multinationals matter. They are one of the main conduits through which globalisation takes place. Multinationals also play an important role in global investment. Although both operate worldwide, the culture of General Motors is distinctively American, that of Volkswagen identifiably German.