Multinational Corporation: Definition, How It Works, Four Types (2024)

What Is a Multinational Corporation?

A multinational corporation (MNC) is a company that has business operations in at least one country other than its home country. By some definitions, it also generates at least 25% of its revenue outside of its home country.

Generally, a multinational company has offices, factories, or other facilities in different countries around the world as well as a centralized headquarters which coordinates global management.

Multinational companies can also be known as international, stateless, or transnational corporate organizations or enterprises. Some may have budgets that exceed those of small countries.

How a Multinational Corporation Works

A multinational corporation is an enterprise whose business activities occur in at least two countries. Some may consider any company with a foreign branch to be a multinational corporation. Others may limit the definition to only those companies that derive at least a quarter of their revenue outside of their home country.

Multinational companies can make direct investments in foreign countries. Many are based in developed nations. Advocates say they create high-paying jobs and technologically advanced goods in countries that otherwise would not have access to such opportunities or goods.

However, critics of these enterprises believe multinational corporations exert undue political influence over governments, exploit developing nations, and create job losses in their own home countries.

The history of the multinational company is linked with the history of colonialism. Many of the first multinational companies were commissioned at the behest of European monarchs to conduct international expeditions.

Some of the colonies not held by Spain or Portugal existed under the administration of some of the world's earliest multinational companies. One of the first was The East India Company, established in 1600. This British multinational enterprise took part in international trade and exploration, and operated trading posts in India. Other early examples of multinational companies include the Swedish Africa Company, founded in 1649, and the Hudson's Bay Company, founded in 1670.

Characteristics of a Multinational Corporation

Some of the characteristics common to various types of multinational corporations include:

• A worldwide business presence
• Typically, large and powerful organizations
• Business conducted in various languages
• A complicated business model and structure
• Direct investments in foreign countries
• Jobs created in foreign countries, potentially with higher wages than found locally
• Seeks improved efficiencies, lower production costs, larger market share
• Has substantial expenses associated with navigating the rules and regulations of foreign countries
• Pays taxes in countries in which it operates
• Reports financial information according to International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)
  
• Sometimes accused of negative economic and/or environmental impacts in foreign markets
• Sometimes accused of negative economic impacts in home country due to outsourcing jobs

Frequently, multinational corporations will also be seen as multicultural organizations, but this is not always the rule. To be multicultural, the business must strive to avoid discrimination and prejudice and employ a workforce that includes diverse backgrounds across all departments and levels.

4 Types of Multinational Corporations

Multinational corporations can be viewed as four main organizational types.

A Decentralized Corporation

A decentralized corporation maintains a presence in its home country and has autonomous offices and other facilities in locations around the world. This type of multinational company has the capability to achieve more, faster because it's decentralized. Each office manages the local business itself, making its own decisions.

A Centralized Global Corporation

A centralized global corporation has a central headquarters in the home country. Executive officers and management located there oversee the global offices and operations as well as domestic operations. They, rather than managers at local offices in foreign countries, make the key business decisions. The offices typically must report to and obtain approval from headquarters personnel for major activities.

An International Division Within a Corporation

An international division is that part of the multinational corporation that has been made responsible for all international operations. This structure facilitates business decision-making and general activities in local, foreign markets. However, operating independently can pose problems when overall corporate consensus and action is required. Maintaining and presenting the carefully nurtured, enterprise-wide brand image established by the multinational may also be a challenge.

A Transnational Corporation

A transnational corporation involves a parent-subsidiary structure whereby the parent company oversees the operations of subsidiaries in foreign countries as well as in the home country. Subsidiaries can make use of the parent's assets, such as research and development data. Subsidiaries may be different brands, as well. The parent usually maintains a management role directing the operations of its subsidiaries, domestic and foreign.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Multinational Corporations

International operations present a variety of advantages and disadvantages to multinational companies, consumers, and a workforce.

Advantages

Developing an international presence can open up new markets and sales opportunities unavailable or not feasible when operating just domestically. For example, a presence in a foreign country such as India can allow a corporation to meet widespread Indian demand for particular products without the transaction costs associated with long-distance shipping.

Corporations can establish operations in markets where their capital can be used most efficiently and wages have less impact on the bottom line than they did in the home country.

By producing the same quality of goods at lower costs, multinational companies can reduce prices and increase the purchasing power of consumers worldwide.

Multinational companies can also take advantage of lower tax rates available in countries eager for their direct investments and the jobs that they'll create. Note, however, that the European Union has a plan to implement a minimum tax of 15% on corporate profits, to become effective in 2023.

Other benefits include a direct financial investment in foreign countries and job growth in their local economies.

Disadvantages

A trade-off of globalization—the price of lower prices—is that domestic jobs move overseas. This can increase unemployment in the home country and make it difficult for longtime employees in outsourced industries to find new jobs.

Those opposed to multinational corporations point to the potential they may have to develop a monopoly (for certain products). This can drive up prices for consumers, stifle competition, and inhibit innovation.

Multinational corporations are also said to have a detrimental effect on the environment because their operations may encourage land development and the depletion of local and natural resources.

Multinational companies may also cause the downfall of small, local businesses. Activists have also claimed that multinational companies breach ethical standards. They accuse them of evading laws to advance their business agendas.