Large Transnational Companies Research Articles

Precários, mas organizados: a estratégia de resistência dos uberizados

Abstract Uberization of work is one more step in the process of unconfiguring the social pacts formed in the Fordist period. The strategy of building “partners” makes it possible to externalize fixed capital costs to a multitude of precarious workers and exempt companies from responsibility for guaranteeing labor rights and occupational safety. This process is driven by large transnational companies that operate beyond national limitations and accumulate on a global scale, in this new territory of labor exploitation. In this article, we present initiatives for the organization of uberized workers based on international and national experiences, in light of the concept of social movement unionism.

Transitioning to more sustainable food systems that support health and wellbeing

Food is central to our health and well-being, yet many aspects of our food systems have become unhealthy and unsustainable. Our food systems today contribute significantly to, and are being destabilised by, the environmental crises we are facing. An increase in the consumption of low-quality diets is the leading cause of death and a major contributor to the burden of non-communicable diseases in Europe. Dietary guidelines issued by governments do not align at all with what is being produced, consumed, and exported. Food systems have also contributed to creating, entrenching and widening health inequalities across Europe, as subgroups of the population have little access to and ability to choose healthy and sustainable food. In addition, the benefits of current food production and consumption systems go to large transnational companies rather than small companies and primary producers; the average EU farmer for example earns 50% of the average worker in the economy. Major external shocks such as COVID-19 and the Russian war against Ukraine have reflected the vulnerability of our current systems of food production and redistribution, as experienced through growing levels of food inflation, food insecurity and hunger in Europe, and even more so in other parts of the world. Ambitious intersectoral and systemic approaches are needed to address current contradictions in our food systems, and to make them more sustainable and resilient. Public health professionals need to step up their action to highlight the impacts of unhealthy food consumption, advocating and engaging in political debates. Promising policies at the EU level, such as the Farm to Fork Strategy, Sustainable Food Law, and on Food Security, set out planned measures to make food systems more environmentally friendly, fair and healthy. Ensuring that such policies are actually implemented, and that environmental, health and social considerations are valued in equal measure as economic ones, remains however a major challenge. This plenary session will focus on what measures are urgently needed and must be prioritised to ensure more sustainable food systems and to improve health and well- being across Europe. The plenary will also discuss the challenges, and the role of health professionals in helping to achieve this critical shift. Moderators: Suzanne Costello, CEO, Institute of Public Health, Ireland Caroline Costongs, Director EuroHealthNet Video address: Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General Keynote speaker: Tim Lang, Emeritus Professor of Food Policy, City University of London, UK Panellists: Francesco Branca, Director of the Department of Nutrition for Health and Development, WHO Gunhild A. Stordalen, Founder and Executive Chair EAT Foundation, Norway Holly Cairns, TD for Cork South-West and Leader of the Social Democrats and party spokesperson on Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Rural Development; Social Justice; and Disability, Ireland Anant Jani, University of Heidelberg, Germany and Fellow Oxford Martin School, Oxford University, UK

ВПЛИВ ПАНДЕМІЇ COVID-19 НА МІЖНАРОДНИЙ БІЗНЕС

The pandemic affected not only the functioning of the world economy, but also the international business strategies of large transnational companies. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on international business are analyzed in the article. The peculiarities of the increase in the level of unemployment during the COVID-19 pandemic have been studied. It is described that many sectors of the world economy have suffered losses from the pandemic. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the international labor market and the unemployment rate is analyzed. The pandemic had a significant impact on the increase in unemployment. About 5 million people lost their jobs in China in the first 2 months of 2020. The world unemployment rate in 2021 was 6.18%, which is 0.4% less than in 2020, according to the World Bank. The level of unemployment in 2019 and 2020 in various regions is characterized, among them: North Africa and Western Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe and North America, Central and South Asia, etc. COVID-19 has led to massive job losses. The pandemic also affected the development of trade. After all, trade in services decreased in 2020. In general, the value of export of services in OECD countries decreased by -16.7% in 2020, which is twice the value of export of goods, which decreased by -8.2%. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant negative impact on the tourism industry. The tourism industry was one of those that was most affected by the pandemic. The tourism industry in many countries of the world has suffered great losses. It has been studied that the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the import and export trends for some of the world's largest trading economies. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the investment activity of the countries of the world is characterized. Features of investment activity in 2019 and 2020 are described. It is worth noting that the Covid-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the GDP of the countries of the world. According to estimates by the International Monetary Fund, real world GDP grew by 2.8% in 2019, decreasing by 3.3% in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Engendering China–Africa Encounters: Chinese Family Firms, Black Women Workers and the Gendered Politics of Production in South Africa

AbstractThis article highlights the centrality of family and gender in Chinese factories in Africa through a case study of Chinese garment production in Newcastle, South Africa. The data used in the article were collected through field research in 2015 and 2016 and several follow-up interviews in 2020 and 2021. The study presents a twofold argument. First, Chinese garment firms in Newcastle can be characterized as “translocal” family firms. Unlike Chinese state enterprises and large transnational companies, these translocal family firms represent a particular kind of private capital that prioritizes a diversified source of income and that is economically embedded but less concessionary to labour pressures. Second, the racial and class encounters between Chinese employers and African women workers are constructed and contested through gender. While Chinese employers attempt to impose racial hierarchy and increase production, Zulu women workers respond to managerial control and demands in creative and gendered ways.

New models and taxonomies to understand and address the commercial determinants of health

Abstract Current models of the determinants of health risk framing public health problems and solutions in ways that obscure the role that the private sector, in particular large transnational companies, play in shaping population health. This presentation will propose a new conceptual model of the commercial determinants of health which recognises the commercial sector's direct, indirect, upstream and downstream influences on health. It will also present emerging evidence-based taxonomies that draw together evidence on the key corporate practices which stymie the implementation of effective public health policies. In so doing, the presentation will explore how we move from understanding to addressing the commercial determinants of health.

Bringing the commercial determinants of health out of the shadows: a review of how the commercial determinants are represented in conceptual frameworks.

BackgroundThe term ‘commercial determinants of health’ (CDOH) is increasingly focussing attention upon the role of tobacco, alcohol and food and beverage companies and others—as important drivers of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). However, the CDOH do not seem to be clearly represented in the most common social determinants of health (SDOH) frameworks. We review a wide range of existing frameworks of the determinants of health to determine whether and how commercial determinants are incorporated into current SDOH thinking.MethodsWe searched for papers and non-academic reports published in English since 2000 describing influences on population health outcomes. We included documents with a formal conceptual framework or diagram, showing the integration of the different determinants.ResultsForty-eight framework documents were identified. Only one explicitly included the CDOH in a conceptual diagram. Ten papers discussed the commercial determinants in some form in the text only and fourteen described negative impacts of commercial determinants in the text. Twelve discussed positive roles for the private sector in producing harmful commodities. Overall, descriptions of commercial determinants are frequently understated, not made explicit, or simply missing. The role of commercial actors as vectors of NCDs is largely absent or invisible in many of the most influential conceptual diagrams.ConclusionsOur current public health models may risk framing public health problems and solutions in ways that obscure the role that the private sector, in particular large transnational companies, play in shaping the broader environment and individual behaviours, and thus population health outcomes.

The application of plant biotechnology in seed industry in the developing countries.

The indigenous seed industry in most developing countries comprises of small and medium scale seed industry. This is supplemented by satellite research laboratories and sales & marketing units of the large trans-national companies. From the angle of application of plant biotechnology, some of the factors playing a decisive role for the indigenous small and medium scale seed industry include quick delivery of results, readily available technologies, minimal risk in investment, proven technologies and minimal financial resources. The large scale trans-national seed companies on the other hand have the investment potential for capital-intensive research and novel research with distant returns. The academia in both, the developing and the developed countries tend to be driven more by novel research having publication potential rather than by application value. Such a situation presents the indigenous small and medium scale seed industry in the developing nations with a unique challenge of having to do with a technical work force who have a gap in training and application and to deliver with limited capital resources. This talk will cover an overview of plant biotechnology. An attempt will be made to present the actual seed industry situation in the developing countries. Plant biotechnology will be sectioned into various areas of application, of which the small and medium scale seed industry is one. The areas of strength and weakness will be discussed. With the advent of low cost sequencers, the molecular-breeding scenario is likely to change at all levels. A paradigm shift in challenges from infrastructure to analytics is expected. Discovery research versus applied research will be discussed. The clarity shed on the applications of plant biotechnology in developing countries should be a handy tool for the aspiring plant biotech professionals, seed industry in the developing countries and for the governmental policy makers.

The separation of property and control and its costs a century old problem that seems modern

The Agency Costs resulting from the conflict between principals and agents, due to the separation of ownership and control in the capitalist enterprise, was analyzed in many works of the last century. Could we assume that the current globalization of companies has increased the differences between principals and agents? Does this scenario lead to an increase in Agency Costs in those companies with the greatest presence in the global economy? The objective of this article is to compile studies that will allow us to answer these questions affirmatively and conclude that large transnational, multinational or global companies involve higher Agency Costs than those that remain within national borders.

Corporate Social Responsibility and Brand Equity in Mexican Small Firms

Corporate social responsibility is a topic that has generally been analyzed and discussed in large national and transnational companies, and relatively few studies have been oriented in small and medium-sized enterprises, even though theoretical and empirical evidence has been provided that small businesses also carry out social responsibility activities. Likewise, brand equity has been scarcely related to corporate social responsibility, and there are few studies published in the current marketing literature that relate these two important constructs. Therefore, using a sample of 300 small firms and applying a structural equations model of second order, which allows to know in greater depth the relationship between corporate social responsibility and brand equity, the essential objective of this empirical study is the analysis and discussion of the effects of corporate social responsibility on the level of brand equity of small firms. The results obtained show that corporate social responsibility has a significant positive effect on the level of brand equity of small firms.

A propriedade da terra no Uruguai: Formação social, politicas publicas, território e industria de celulose

Desde o ano 2005, com a chegada ao governo da força progressista da “Frente Ampla”, o Uruguai atravessa por um ciclo de estabilidade político- econômica e governabilidade que tem lhe permitido manter um ritmo de crescimento relativamente constante, em um contexto regional marcado pela arremetida do conservadorismo e a direita neoliberal. Durante este ciclo foram notórios os avanços em matéria de direitos individuais e laborais, na redução da pobreza e exclusão social, etc., em consonância com a consolidação de um modelo produtivo baseado na exportação em grande escala de produtos primários e caracterizado pela concentração e anonimato sobre a propriedade da terra. Isto, por sua vez, se apoia em políticas públicas que estabelecem um marco regulatório que garante grandes vantagens ás empresas (concessões, isenções fiscais, etc.), visando assim atrair investimentos (estrangeiros) como forma de inserção internacional. A indústria da celulose, que começou em 2007, baseada no monocultivo de eucalipto, é hoje um pilar fundamental deste modelo, com a particularidade de ser uma indústria conduzida por grandes empresas transnacionais, que produzem baixo o regime de Zonas Francas e que são as maiores proprietárias de terra no país. Com a iminente instalação de uma terceira fábrica de produção de celulose, abrem-se novas questões em relação à propriedade da terra, a forma de organização espacial das empresas, sob a relação entre estas e o Estado e sobre a capacidade de este de regular soberanamente o território nacional.
 
 Palavras–chave: Formação social - Políticas públicas – Território – Indústria de celulose

REGULARITIES IN THE FORMATION OF THE COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE OF THE EMERGING HIGH-TECH MARKETS

The problem of identification of key actors of scientific and technological development of the Russian Federation is considered. Attention is drawn to the absence of domestic companies interested and ready to cofinance R & D in many promising areas. The analysis of the map of the competitive landscape of the technological area “the reprogramming of somatic cells”, the development of which is expected to create the industry of artificial human organs, has been carried out. It has been shown that large transnational companies need 3–5 years to incorporate new technology into their marketing strategy and become a leader in the emerging market of high-tech goods and services.

Economic Power, Development and Neoliberalism in Brazil

After its process of industrialization (1950s and first years of 1970s), the Brazilian industrial park became dominated by subsidiaries of large transnational companies that currently hold the control of productive value chains, especially medium and high technology. Neoliberal policies from the 1990s further contributed to internationalization of the industrial park by the privatization of state-owned enterprises, as well reinforcing foreign presence in value chains. Additionally, the “global outsourcing” system also promotes de-industrialization in some sectors. Those neoliberal policies are the result of the subordination of the interests of the national class to large transnational groups. Brazilian financial conglomerates also gain from the orthodox policy that supports neoliberalism. These interests prevent policies from creating a competitive and independent economy. Attempts to change this power structure are always blocked as disrespect to the economic orthodox thinking that serves as technical justification to neoliberalism. Is it still possible to break these relations of subordination and dependence towards real development?

Role of Transnational Companies in Implementaion of the Import Phaseout Strategy in the Agroindustrial Sector

The objective of this research is to study the theoretical concepts and to develop the recommendations to reveal the possibilities of realization of the import phaseout strategy in the Russian food industry in a competitive environment with the largest transnational corporations. The analysis performed in this branch showed that nowadays the import phaseout should be closely connected to the stimulation of the internal demand and state support of the local manufacturers. It was revealed that the attractiveness of the Russian food industry led to the situation when now a large share of the Russian market is under the impact of the transnational corporations, the activity of which does not allow the agroindustrial complex to develop efficiently. As a solution of this situation, it is offered to create the agricultural cooperatives which can compete with the large transnational companies in the countries with the developed economy.

Global corporate responsibility in domestic context: lateral decoupling and organizational responses to globalization

This paper examines how the domestic reception of global corporate responsibility is significantly shaped by institutionalized differences among state, business and civil society actors in the domestic context. In the global diffusion of ideas and practices, the decoupling of global policies and domestic practice is endemic, a process that this paper argues results from competing domestic interests and orientations. I examine this process of ‘lateral decoupling’ in a case study of the reception of the United Nations Global Compact among corporate responsibility practitioners in the city-state of Singapore. Differences in ceremonial, pragmatic and non-adversarial orientations towards global corporate responsibility generated significant uncertainty for businesses around how to apply corporate responsibility principles. In response, businesses constructed distinct narratives: large transnational and domestic companies emphasized values, community and tradition, while small businesses focused on the competitive advantages of corporate responsibility. The paper concludes by discussing the implications of domestic institutions for mediating global principles and local outcomes.

Преобразуването на търговски дружества: глобални и национални аспекти

The study analyzes the motives and factors influencing the transformation of commercial companies. It outlines the main reasons and circumstances, typical for transformation of large corporations operating in countries with developed economies. Two corporate reorganizations between foreign enterprises are examined. Based on specific financial and non-financial indicators the author proves the existence of the discussed motives for conversion. The study focuses on the reasons for transformation due to the specific procedure in Bulgaria. A comparison is made between the reasons for transformation, usual for transactions between large transnational companies and the circumstances motivating the implementation of conversion between Bulgarian companies.

Corporate responsibility reporting according to Global Reporting Initiative: an international comparison

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) is an organization that has managed to impose its reporting practices on corporate responsibility among large transnational companies. The model proposed by GRI is based on the supposed convergence between the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development. This convergence can be presumed at macroeconomic level, but at the level of enterprises, the three dimensions are often divergent. By analyzing the structure of reports included in the GRI database, our article aims to identify the factors that impact on company’s behavior in the corporate responsibility reporting process. In addition, our research invites to answer the following question: is it not possible that these reports attempt to exaggerate company environmental and social performance, rather than to cause a change in their conduct?

The Potential Impact of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) on public health.

This article aims to examine the potential health effects of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment partnership (TTIP). Our review indicates that, although proponents of the TTIP claim that the treaty will produce benefits to health-enhancing determinants such as economic growth and employment, evidence shows that previous trade liberalization policies are associated with increasing economic inequities. By reducing Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) and by promoting increased cooperation between US and EU governmental agencies in the pharmaceutical sector, the TTIP could result in improved research cooperation and reduced duplication of processes. However, the TTIP chapter on Intellectual Property (IP) and Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) that expand and extend patent monopolies, and delay the availability of generic drugs, are likely to cause underutilization of needed medications among vulnerable populations. The TTIP's Investor to State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) arbitration system, a mechanism that allows transnational companies (TNCs) to sue governments when a policy or law reduces the value of their investment, is likely to generate a negative impact on regulations aimed at increasing access to healthcare, and reducing tobacco, alcohol consumption, and diet-related diseases. The Sanitary and Phytosanitary Standards (SPS) of the TTIP is expected to weaken regulations in the food and agricultural sectors especially in the EU, with potentially negative effects on food safety and foodborne diseases. Finally, the ISDS is likely to infringe the ability of governments to tackle environmental problems such as climate change deemed to be the most important global health threat of the century. Our review concludes by discussing policy implications and the effect of the TTIP on democracy, national sovereignty and the balance of power between large TNCs and governments. It also discusses the adoption of an evidence-based precautionary principle approach in dealing with the health impact of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) as well as the harmonization of regulations, norms, and standards toward stronger health and environmental protection.

Fome oculta e seus liames com a economía, a política e a sociedade

This article aims to discuss the main causes of hunger, mainly the hidden hunger, concept broadly approached by Josue de Castro in his works. In this intention, it uses as an example the issue of hidden hunger in Brazil. Hidden hunger occurs when individuals have nutritional deficiencies in their diets, affecting their health and quality of life, resulting in various diseases associated with precarious diet. In this sense, the research will approach economic, social and political aspects that hinder access to food, especially the dispossessed people of the means of production. Furthermore, aims to show how the capitalist mode of production, which has the inequality as one of its main characteristics, favors the expansion of cases of hunger and hidden hunger in worldwide, as well as using strategies that encourage the consumption of processed foods, with low nutritional content, from large transnational and multinational companies.

DESIGNING OF AN AUTOMOBILE FLEET NETWORK

Investment volume is considered as an important factor in regional development under current conditions. Logistical infrastructure which ensures a complex transport, distributive, information and other services exerts a significant influence on regional investment attractiveness. Lack of clear vision on development and execution of development strategy for logistics infrastructure from the side of regional authorities results in unwillingness of large federal and transnational companies to provide investments in infrastructure projects. Network of automotive transport terminals is one of the main elements in logistics infrastructure. The network allows to optimize a flow of material goods from the point of their origin to the point of their consumption with the lowest possible costs and the required level of service. Automobile transport is one of the main objects of transport infrastructure and it is characterized by rather high flexibility in comparison with other types of transport facilities that preconditions its widespread application. Network of automobile fleets (terminals) has been formed for redistribution of goods traffic within the concerned regions. The purpose of the present research is to develop a mathematical model for formation of transport infrastructure on the territory of regions. The paper proposes an approach for formation of automobile fleet (terminal) network on the territory of a large region with due account of the established network of distribution and sorting-out warehouse facilities. A model has been developed for solving the problem pertaining to minimization of aggregate costs related to maintenance of automobile fleets, delivery of goods to and from distribution and sorting-out warehouse facilities to consumers, ferry of empty trucks and goods handling. The model makes it possible to determine optimal number and location area of automobile fleets (terminals) while accounting for their possible locations, capacity and limitations on type and number of transport facilities.

Global Sourcing Approach to Improve Cash Flow of Agribusiness Companies in Brazil

We developed a multiechelon location-inventory modeling approach and applied it to redesign the global network of four large transnational agricultural companies operating in Brazil. The results show that tax planning is the most significant factor in minimizing the operating cash outflow and that inventory carrying costs play a more important role than transfer freight, handling, and fixed costs. Distribution centers and production plants in countries within the Mercosur are excellent targets for cash outflow reduction and service level improvement. Furthermore, contrary to common sense, reducing operating costs can sometimes increase cash outflow in companies with large volumes of tax credit in Brazil. Our methodology generated processes that helped one company reduce its logistic cash outflow by 49 percent and its logistics costs by $10 million.