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country of origin and also has a branch abroad. The headquarter usually remains in
one country, controlling and coordinating all the international branches.
Depending on the size of the MNC, there could be several branches and subsidiaries
in multiple nations. For example, Amazon started in 1995 from a garage near
Seattle and today, as a multinational company, it operates in over 30 countries.
Table of contents
Multinational Company (MNC) Meaning
How Does Multinational Company Work?
Features of a Multinational Company
Examples of MNCs
Types of MNCs
Advantages of a Multinational Company
Criticisms of MNCs
FAQs
Recommended Articles
Key Takeaways
A multinational company has its headquarter in one country and a branch or
subsidiary in at least one foreign country.
The global business operations
are managed and controlled centrally, i.e., from the head office located in the
home country. Regional offices abroad manage business operations as per the
established norms of the headquarter.
There could be several branches, subsidiaries and outlets as per the size of the
entity.
Multinational corporations can be categorized into four different types:
decentralized multinational corporations, centralised global corporations,
international companies, and transnational enterprises.
While the first purpose of multinational corporations is profit maximization, these
companies also diversify their business operations to seek cost advantage and
acquire enriched resources and cheap labor.
Many MNCs are a source of economic development, employment generation and community
development.
Usually, MNCs extend themselves into other nations by introducing products suited
to the local needs and culture. If Amazon had offered goods central to Seattle
buyers, it could have hardly tapped in potential buyers from other continents such
as Asia, which has distinct needs.
Coming to performance, in 2020, Walmart, Saudi Aramco, Apple Inc., Microsoft were
listed as some of the top-performing multinational corporations as per Fortune
Global 500 ranking. The list features worlds best multinational companies. In 2019,
together they generated $33.3 in revenues
and employed 69.9 million people around the globe.
One of the world’s largest payment system, Visa Inc., came into existence in 1958.
Headquartered in San Francisco, California, the company revolutionized digital
payments with enhanced safety and user-friendly features. Resultantly, it extended
business in 200+ countries.
Types of MNCs
Given below are the four main kinds of multinational corporations we across every
day:
There have been accusations of flouting workplace safety and environment protection
norms. Some researchers say MNCs account for nearly a fifth of carbon emissions
globally. A few years ago, many American companies shifted their headquarters to a
country with a lower tax rate to pay fewer taxes. It had troubled policymakers,
urging them to find a quick solution.
From the company’s perspective, many of them struggle to flourish if the foreign
land has high duties and tax rates. Moreover, any political and economic
disturbances could shake their foundations too. Besides, if there is volatility in
the currency of the two countries, the company could face loss.