Many corporations have more power than the nation-states across whose borders they operate.
Transnational corporations hold ninety percent of all technology and product patents worldwide. Transnational corporations are involved in 70 percent of world trade. The number of transnational corporations in the world has jumped from 7,000 in 1970 to 40,000 in 1995. While ever-more global in reach, these corporations' home bases are concentrated in the Northern industrialized countries, where ninety percent of all transnationals are based. Despite their growing numbers, power is concentrated at the top.