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This article examines the application of "resource dependency theory" to transnational corporations (TNCs) operating in host countries like Bangladesh to explain the relationship between the TNCs and Bangladesh. Data indicate that while the TNCs' participation in a third world host country is encouraged primarily for promoting its economic development, TNCs are mainly attracted by market size, purchasing capacities (determined mainly by GNP) of the population, and stable political condition of the country. Although examination of the application of resource dependency theory provides some insights into understanding the complicated relationship between TNCs and Bangladesh, several other factors, not explained by resource dependency theory, help explain the behavior of TNCs in a host country

Aims to examine the issue of industrial strategy (IS), paying particular attention to the case of Britain. Sets out to assess the possibility and nature of an industrial strategy for Britain, in Europe, and within the global scene, taking into account the world we live in as we see it. Accordingly, the perspective is driven and shaped by a quest for a realistic, feasible and sustainable industrial strategy. In order to achieve these objectives, first examines the theoretical arguments behind much of British, and more generally, Western industrial policies. Following this, outlines and assesses British industrial policy post‐Second World War then compares and contrasts British industrial policy with that of Europe, the USA, Japan and the newly industrialized countries. Then examines recent developments in economics and management which may explain the “Far Eastern” miracle, and points to the possibility of a successful, narrowly self‐interested, IS for Europe and Britain, based on the lessons from (new) theory and international experience. To assess what is possible, develops a theoretical framework linking firms in their roles as consumers and/or electors. This hints at the possibilities and limits of feasible policies. All these ignore desirability which, in the author′s view, should be seen in terms of distributional considerations, themselves contributors to sustainability. Accordingly, discusses a desirable industrial strategy for Britain in Europe which accounts for distributional considerations, and goes on to examine its implications for the issue of North‐South convergence. Concludes by pointing to the limitations of the analysis and to directions for developments.

Since the Second World War the Transnational Corporations (TNCs) have emerged as powerful engines of growth and development in the world economy. Much controversy surrounds the issues of TNCs' benign and malign effects on the development aspirations of host developing countries (HDCs). The TNCs exert immense economic power over HDCs by virtue of their proprietary control over a package of ingredients much sought after by HDCs. This TNC package comprises capital, technology, managerial talent, marketing networks, information and know‐how. The TNCs carefully safeguard their ownership of this package by patents, licences, trade‐marks and a variety of other legal devices. The ownership of the package enables TNCs to extract monopoly rents from HDCs.

The purpose of this paper is to contend that the dominant voluntarism approach to the accountability of transnational corporations (TNCs) is inadequate and not fit-for-purpose. The authors argue for the establishment of an international legal mechanism for securing the accountability of TNCs, particularly in the context of developing countries with notoriously weak governance mechanisms to protect all relevant stakeholders.

The study adopts insights from the fields of management and international law to draw out synergies from particular understandings of corporate governance, corporate social responsibility and international human rights. The challenges to governance in developing countries with regard to securing the accountability of TNCs are illustrated with the Nigerian experience of oil-industry legislation reform.

The specific context of the experiences of developing countries in Africa on the operations of TNCs particularly commends the need and expedience to create an international legal regime for ensuring the accountability of TNCs.

Mainstream research in this area has focused mainly on self and voluntary models of regulation and accountability that have privileged the legal fiction of the corporate status of TNCs. This paper departs from that model to argue for an enforceable model of TNC’s accountability – based on an international mechanism.

This paper presents the results of a complex but challenging investigation into the global power play at the United Nations (UN) over the issue of international accounting regulation. It specifically attempts to explain why the host developing nations of most transnational corporations (TNCs), despite controlling a significant majority vote at the UN and thus possessing the necessary “political” power, conspicuously failed to impose their accounting disclosure agenda on the TNCs and on the (minority) developed nations. The political concept of power is used in examining the accounting standard setting process at the UN, in the context of regulatory reforms of the TNCs. While alternative models of power are considered, Robert Dahl’s decision‐oriented pluralistic model was adopted in the study because it proved to be the most consistent with the events, objectives and the empirical data presented. The research findings indicate that organized pressures from the TNCs, co‐ordinated under the joint forum of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the International Organisation of Employers (IOE), coupled with the economic and diplomatic manoeuvring of the developed market economy nations, had succeeded in overriding the rule of “one‐nation‐one‐vote” and securing a de facto veto over the majority view at the UN. The pioneering efforts of the UN in setting international reporting standards had been curbed and frustrated through the construction and use of such “veto” by the minority representation.

Explores the behaviour of transnational corporations (TNCs) in Malaysian manufacturing firms in relation to employment absorption, human capital formation and technological change, based on a survey of 60 firms randomly selected within the major manufacturing establishments in Malaysia. Argues that TNCs exert an influence in promoting employment, training and innovation and adopt a much more proactive policy towards HRD than the local firms in Malaysia. However, their reluctance to participate and invest substantially in local R&D could result in a gradual reduction of technology flow and stifle the development of domestic innovative capacity. Policy measures are therefore required to induce TNCs to undertake greater R&D activities in Malaysia, and such measures should be conceived in the broader context of the indigenous technological development policy of the country.

This paper aims to highlight the disparity between the huge global influence and reach of transnational corporations, on the one hand, and the lack of international legal infrastructure for regulating TNC activity, on the other. Existing avenues for holding TNCs accountable for breaches of international standards are woefully inadequate. After rejecting the idea of subjecting TNCs to potential criminal liability, the paper then proposes a set of principles for international TNC responsibility modelled on the 2001 Draft Articles on State Responsibility. The potential future role of regional human rights courts and the International Labour Organisation in holding TNCs accountable is also explored.

A survey of existing legal texts and secondary scholarship was undertaken to determine the existing coverage of the regulatory infrastructure for holding TNCs to account, and to identify gaps in that coverage.

Significant governance gaps in the existing institutional infrastructure were identified, creating a permissive environment within which blameworthy acts by TNCs may occur without adequate sanctioning or reparation. Potential regulatory and institutional avenues for filling these gaps were identified.

The author lacks hands‐on experience of the political barriers which may exist and may make the proposed reforms unrealistic. Those in the field are encouraged to consider whether the proposed reforms are feasible/desirable.

The paper contains implications for the future of international law, the regional human rights courts and the International Labour Organisation.

The paper contains original proposals for the future evolution of international law in its application to TNCs.

The purpose of this paper is to provide a general review of international efforts to hold transnational corporations (TNCs) responsible for human rights. It tracks the evolution of international conventions related to TNCs and human rights and assesses their effectiveness.

The paper describes and analyzes efforts over the last four decades by the United Nations (UN), the Organisation for Economic Co‐operation and Development, the International Labour Organization and non‐governmental groups to provide guidelines and encourage TNCs to aspire to international standards in human rights.

The early attempts to regulate TNCs internationally lacked any form of the robust compulsion, systemic monitoring and effective enforcement mechanisms necessary to deal with the magnitude of the global investment arena. However, during the last decade, there has been explicit recognition on the part of the UN that action is necessary and the most recent convention emanating from the UN, the Norms, may evolve into a binding instrument on TNCs.

This paper, by mapping the development of global ethical conventions up to the UN Norms on the responsibilities for TNCs and other business enterprises with regards to human rights, informs corporate officers of the state of global discussions on this issue and lays the groundwork for further scholarly analysis of the Norms in the future.

The purpose of the paper is to analyse how European integration shapes the locational decisions of foreign transnational corporations (TNCs).

The paper concentrates on foreign direct investment (FDI) in the European Union (EU) and highlight the case of Greece. The investigation is based on a wide original sample of 199 foreign industrial subsidiaries operating in Greece. In particular, the paper reveals the dynamic investment and divestment strategies of TNCs in the host economy, which have taken place in the context of the reduction of EU market fragmentation and barriers to entry.

The empirical results suggest, that, in general, the participation of Greece in the EU has not increased the attractiveness of the country as a production base for TNCs. In fact, Greece did neither manage to attract considerable amounts of export oriented foreign investment nor did it receive much efficiency seeking FDI.

The findings show for the case of Greece that divestment strategies of TNCs play a crucial role in explaining FDI patterns. For extending the results to more general applications, further research on this topic is needed.

The paper concludes that the integration of Greece into the EU has uncovered some structural deficits of the national economy. In addition, we identify some important locational weaknesses concerning the Greek ability to attract FDI. Thus, in order to stop divestment of foreign TNCs further reform efforts are necessary. These findings are of particular interest for public policy makers.

To the best of the authors' knowledge this is the first study that jointly analyse the investment and divestment strategies of TNCs in the specific regional context of Greece and the EU. It draws on an original sample of 199 foreign enterprises operating in Greece.

The purpose of this paper is to trace the scope and dimensions of global opportunities that emerge in the era of globalization through the rapid growth of transnational corporations (TNCs), which Indian small to medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) could exploit. The backdrop to the discussion is the growth of small‐scale industries (SSIs) in the era of globalization relative to the pre‐globalization era, with a particular focus on their export performance.

Based on secondary data, the growth of SSIs is analyzed and the scope of global opportunities for Indian SMEs is explored.

Although the growth of the SSIs segment of the SME sector in India has slowed in terms of the number of enterprises, level of people employed and production, SSI export performance has been impressive in the globalization period. The SSI sector has grown more towards the international market than the domestic market in the globalization era. Globalization has offered new markets to SMEs primarily through two major developments: the adoption of a complex integration strategy by TNCs for their production network, and the global procurement strategies and global expansion of TNC supermarket chains.

The paper prescribes a dual strategy of vertical integration of local SMEs with global TNCs for the production of intermediate goods and horizontal cooperation through networking among local SMEs to link up with global TNCs for the production and marketing of consumer goods. The role of Indian policymakers as a facilitator in the process is emphasized.

This paper throws light on recent growth performance of small‐scale enterprises in India and provides insight on the emerging global opportunities to Indian SMEs, which need to be given due consideration by Indian policymakers for exploitation.