“Hollowing-out” of U.S. multinationals and their global competitiveness: An intrafirm perspective

Abstract

This article examines a widely debated issue: the “hollowing-out” of U.S. multinationals. Using path analysis applied to the benchmark survey of U.S. direct investment abroad for 1977 and 1982, the study shows that the “hollowness” of U.S. multinationals is indicative of their global competitiveness, although causal relationships are not obvious. “Hollowing-out” may be an offshoot of the deindustrialization of the U.S. economy; it may alternatively signify “reindustrialization” of U.S. firms on a global basis.