What is MNC? Discuss the beneficial and harmful effects of MNCs on Indian economy.

 Q. What is MNC? Discuss the beneficial and harmful effects of MNCs on Indian economy.

Ans. Meaning of Multinational Enterprise/Corporation

Multinational corporation is that corporation whose sphere of activity is spread over more than one country. These corporations are known by several names e.g. Transnational Corporation, International Corporation or Global Corporation. Various MNCs are working in our country like Hindustan Unilever, Johnson and Johnson, Philips, Colgate, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, LG, Nestle, Samsung, Hyundai,Cadbury, Vodafone etc.

In the words of President of I.B.M. a world famous corporation, “Multinational Corporation is one that (i) operates in many countries, (ii) carries out research, development, marketing and manufacturing in many countries, (iii) has a multinational management, (iv) has a multinational stock ownership.”

The United Nations defines MNCs as, “Enterprises whose area of working – factories, mines, sales, offices and the like are in two or more countries.”

The Encyclopedia of Management (2005) put multinational companies as business concern with operation in more than one country.

In short, multinational corporation is a big firm, whose headquarter is located in one country but whose trading and manufacturing activities are spread over many other countries.

Beneficial effects of MNCs on Indian economy: 

(1) Availability of Capital: Multinational corporations help to solve the problem of capital faced by underdeveloped countries. Underdeveloped countries suffer from lack of capital. Consequently, their rate of economic growth is low. By making investment in underdeveloped countries, MNCs help them to achieve the objective of higher economic growth.

(2) Availability of Modern Techniques and Management: MNCs provide modern technology and managerial services to enterprises established by them. As a result, the productivity of those enterprises increases and resources are optimally utilised. It is through the medium of multinational corporations that technology has been transferred from developed countries to developing countries. MNCs are providing managerial, administrative and technical skills to developing countries. In many areas MNCs are providing complex and modern technology.

(3) Availability of Marketing Services: Multinational corporations make available marketing services especially related to export marketing, advertising, market research, storage facilities, transport, packaging, branding, etc. All these services are efficiently performed by multinational corporations.

(4) Availability of Foreign Exchange: Multinational corporations bring their capital in foreign currency. It increases the inflow of foreign currency in domestic country. This increases the availability of foreign exchange with the domestic country. It helps the country to make payment of essential imports.

(5) Increase in Employment: Countries, wherein multinational corporations (MNCs) establish their subsidiaries, get employment opportunities. By increasing investment, these subsidiaries set up new enterprises. Consequently, employment increases.

(6) Increase in Knowledge: MNCs impart training to local employees in respect of modern management, marketing, finance, export, etc. In this way, their ability and skill to organise and conduct their activities on modern lines enhances.

(7) Increase in Exports: The multinational corporations utilise cheap domestic labour and their huge capital resources to convert raw materials into finished products. The managerial skill, availability of capital, modern technology and other sources of MNCs result in proper utilisation of resources. Because of better technology, the quality of products is better and these products find easy entry in foreign markets. It leads to increase in exports of the country.

(8) Increase in Competition: Entry of MNCs promotes competition in the domestic economy. Increased competition results in lower prices, which is beneficial for consumers e.g., entry of LG, Samsung, Sony, etc. in electronics has promoted competition in India. It has resulted in decrease in prices of electronic goods.

(9) Increase in Industrialisation: Multinational corporations make important contribution in the industrialisation of developing countries. They provide managerial skills, technical know-how and adequate funds required for starting a new industry. Many industries are set up in India by the MNCs, e.g. Phillips, Glaxo, Colgate, Hindustan Uni lever, Proctor and Gamble, Nestle, BPL, Ceat, MRF, etc.

Harmful effects of MNCs on Indian economy:

(1) Outflow of Funds from Host Country: Host country is one where multinational corporations set up their subsidiaries. The main objective of these MNCs is to earn maximum profit. To achieve this objective they invest their capital in underdeveloped countries. Such an investment proves very profitable. Big chunk of profits earned in underdeveloped countries goes to the headquarters of MNCs. Moreover, MNCs take large amount of foreign exchange out of country by way of dividend, royalty, management fees, etc. Because of the operations of MNCs in India, large amount of foreign exchange has gone out of the country. So, in the long run balance of payments becomes unfavourable.

(2) Harmful for Indigenous Producers: MNCs prove harmful to indigenous producers. By making use of improved technology in their production system, these corporations fix lower price of their products and thus compete out indigenous producers. Once the indigenous industry is completely destroyed by this competition, MNCs take full control over the market. By virtue of their competitive strength, they throw out indigenous producers from highly profitable, progressive and developed sectors. It is difficult for local industries to stay in the market for long in the face of huge capital resources, high technology, competent management possessed by these corporations.

(3) Unbalanced Regional Development: Foreign investors set up industries in developed cities and towns whiere infrastructural facilities are easily available and not in backward areas. This leads to further development of already developed areas and the backward areas remain untouched. Thus, regional disparities increase.

(4) Less use of Modern Technology: MNCs do not make much use of modern technology in underdeveloped countries. These corporations use new equipments and technologies only if the same are helpful in reducing the costs and raising their profits. But they take no interest in developing technology for underdeveloped countries because without spending anything on the improved technology, they succeed in raising their profits.

(5) Tax Evasion: Government of the host country imposes corporation tax on the income of companies and corporations, with a view to increase its revenue. In order to avoid corporation tax, MNCs reduce the amount of their profit by adopting transfer pricing methods. According to this method, MNCs buy intermediate goods from their subsidiaries abroad at high price and thus reduce their local profits. Similarly MNCs export their products to their subsidiaries abroad at lower prices, so as to under-value the exports to show lower local profits. Thus, MNCs over-invoice the imports and under-invoice the exports, so as to show less profits. That way through manipulation of bills MNCs evade tax.

(6) Lack in Morality and Ethics: Some MNCs indulge in unethical and corrupt practices for their self-interest They do not hesitate to offer bribe to highly placed officials and politicians of other countries to allow them to enter into such transactions which only serve their own interest.

(7) Political Interference: MNCs prove detrimental to the economic and political freedom of the host countries. These interfere in the politics of the country. These corporations make all efforts to bring that political party to power in the host country which is favourably inclined to them.

(8) Encourage Demonstration Effect: The MNCs incur heavy expenditure on advertisement and publicity. It results in wasteful expenditure whose burden is ultimately born by Indian consumer. MNCs produce products for upper class of consumers like cold drinks, ice-creams, cosmetics, washing machine, cars, high priced shoes etc. This creates demonstration effect. People of underdeveloped countries are crazy about the products of MNCs. It also leads to diversion of resources toward production of non-essential goods.

(9) Competition with Small-Scale Industries: Various MNCs are allowed production in the area where small-scale industries were doing well e.g. potato chips, wafers, biscuits, jam, cosmetics, etc. Because of heavy advertisement and brand image of MNCs, our small-scale industries fail to compete with MNCs e.g. entry of Uncle Chips has resulted in failure of many SSI units (small-scale units) who were producing potato chips. Similarly, entry of Hindustan Unilever Ltd. in consumer goods industry has badly affected many small-scale units producing consumer goods.

(10) Production of Prohibited Goods: The main objective of the multinational corporations is to earn profits. In order to get more profits they indulge in the production of even those goods which are harmful for the consumers. Many of the medicines and other products, the production of which has been prohibited in foreign countries are being manufactured and sold in India by multinational corporations. As such the multinationals earn profits even at the cost of the health of consumers.

(11) Problem of Brain Drain: MNCs recruit qualified and skilled engineers, technicians, experts in India and after sometime, these Indian experts are posted abroad in the foreign subsidiaries of MNCs. So that way, MNCs are draining Indian talent and expertise to the other countries.

(12) Non-Essential Products: MNCs are producing such products as can be produced with the help of local technology such as lipstick, toothpaste, cosmetics, ice-cream, biscuits, colas, processed foods, etc. Most of the MNCs are producing consumer goods which are not essential for the economic development of a nation. The main aim of these corporations is to earn profit. These corporations take no interest in the production of capital goods, wage goods and development of scarce resources of the country.

(13) Multiple Collaborations: It means more than one technology agreements for the import of same or similar technology. If a particular technology has already been imported and now the country is importing same or similar technology through another collaboration with foreign country, then it is known as multiple collaboration. This results in repetitive payments for the import of similar technology. The problem of multiple collaboration is common in developing countries. It puts extra burden on foreign exchange reserves.

(14) Unsuitable Technology: The technology brought by MNCs was unsuitable for India. MNCs brought capital intensive technology which does not suit India as our economy is capital scarce and labour abundant economy. Keeping in view, the unemployment problem and scarcity of capital, labour intensive technology is suitable for India, but MNCs use capital intensive technology.

(15) Less Bargaining Capacity of Indian Entrepreneurs: Foreign collaboration agreements are largely in favour of foreign collaborators. Due to less bargaining power of the Indian side, foreign collaboration agreements are largely in favour of foreign collaborators and not in favour of Indians.

(16) Growth of Monopoly Powers: MNCs join hands with big industrial houses in India which lead to growth of monopolies.

(17) Harmful for Consumers: MNCs are harmful to consumers because of following:

(i) Excessive advertisements, thus charging high price from consumers.

(ii) Adopting unfair trade practices like deceptive advertisement.

(18) Purchase of Raw Material and Intermediate Goods from Foreign Subsidiaries: MNCs often purchase raw materials and intermediate goods from the foreign subsidiaries.This results in losses to Indian industries supplying raw materials and intermediate goods. 

In short, the multinationals have both the merits as well as demerits. The government should take special policy measures to avoid the demerits. It will be more appropriate if such multinationals are encouraged which guarantee the export of their production and utilise appropriate technology.