Stephen Hymer's Contribution to Development of Theory of the Multinational Corporation

The purpose of the article is a discussion of Stephen Hymer's works ьееп as a significant centribution to the development of the theory of multinational corporation. Since he submitted his doctoral thesis at the MIT in I960 he has been quoted in almost all publications devoted to the theory of multinational corporations and many of his hypotheses have been verified and confirmed by both his supporters and opponents. The article describes Hymer's most important hypotheses concerning internationalization of the national enterprise, the causes and effects of mutually crossed investments between the USA and Europe, the impact of the firm's size and position in the home market structure on the choice of forms of foreign expansion and many others. The article also presents the radicalization of Hymer's views, from the time of presentation of his doctoral thesis to his last paper, published in 1972. Hymer from the very beginning of his career was under the influence of Marxist ideas, which determined his methods of research and interpretation of facts connected with the activity of multinational corporations. After some time and new research, Hymer ceases to be only an interpreter of the capitalist market phenomena and ardently accuses the system which demands unequal economic and social development. One of the examples of degenerat ion of this system is the existence of monopolies, their various forms and the process of internationalization of enterprises with all its consequences for world economy