From United Nations University

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30. TNCs and Economic Integration

30.1 Introduction
    a) the distinction between corporate and regional integration;
       the forms of the two kinds of integration

    b) the reasons for corporate and regional integration

    c) some specific features of integrated TNCs

30.2 Role of TNCs in the international allocation of economic activity
    a) judged according to principles of comparative advantage

    b) judged according to the goals of TNCs
       - the 'arbitrage' function
       - the effect of an imperfect competitive market structure
       - the effect of government policies

    c) judged according to the economic and developmental goals of
       particular countries

30.3 Regional and corporate integration
    a) the interaction between corporate and regional integration

    b) the conditions under which corporate integration may aid
       regional integration. Cf. role of TNCs in Latin America
       with those in Europe

    c) how might TNCs affect the distribution of the benefits of
       regional integration

    d) LDC restructuring through national and regional integration

    e) how far can industrial integration aid regional integration?

    f) corporate integration and host government policies (Doz 1986)

    g) the likely impact of Europe '1992' or TNC activity into and
       out of developing countries (UNCTC 1990)

30.4 The balance between self-sufficiency and interdependence
    a) trade offs between alternative forms of economic involvement
       by countries and achievement of development goals

    b) conditions under which TNCs, may or may not contribute to
       these goals

    c) illustrations of ways in which TNCs may promote cross-border
       industrial integration

30.5 A comparison between TNC intervention with regional integration in
       Europe with that in developing countries i.e. LAFTA, Andean pact
       countries, the Central American Common Market, the Caribbean
       Community (CARICOM), ASEAN, the Southern and East African
       Preferential Trade Area (PTA), Maghreb and East-West Cooperation,
       NAFTA, MERCOSUR, and APEC
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UNCTC(1990) UNCTC(1982(b) chap. 3)
Special issue of Journal of Common Market Studies on TNCs and
Economic Integration in December 1987
Vaitsos 1980
World Investment Report (1991,1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 and 1996)(UNCTC)
World Investment Directory 1992, Vol. 3, UNCTC

See Bibliography
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RRojas Research Unit/1996