A third reason for the spread of multinationals is that they tend to be successful. In any business, inefficient firms will eventually fold, giving way to those that can earn higher profits. As the world economy becomes more integrated, it is to be expected that the companies most adept at crossing borders are those that prosper. It should come as no surprise that firms from richer countries do this best. As a rule, they have been exposed to more competition in their home markets and are therefore well equipped for international competitive battles.
Many companies exist to serve other companies, rather than household consumers.
If multinational car manufacturers want to use the same headlights in cars assembled in different countries, then headlight manufacturers must become multinational, too. This is why consulting firms and accountancies have been falling over one another to build seamless global networks. Although deregulation and privatisation have had a big effect on the telecoms industry, the demands of corporate customers are helping propel the globalisation of that industry. The reasoning above suggests that the growth of multinational companies is fairly benign. But that is not always the case.