MNCs in the Global Economy

Multinational companies are particularly affected by changes in the global economy in which they play a major role. The strategies they develop and the decisions they make contribute to shape the globalization process. Over the past few years, many multinational companies have tried to diversify their international expansion by reinforcing their presence in new geographic regions, particularly in emerging markets. At the same time, one can observe a fragmentation of the value-chain, marked by a growing geographic dispersion of production and marketing activities, as well as of research and development (R&D) activities. This chapter focuses on the characteristics of multinational companies in a context of economic globalization. The author analyzes the evolution of management modes and organizational configurations of multinational companies