Student guide Faculty of Economics A.Y. 2008/09

The course intends to highlight the relevance of the historical dimension for a deeper understanding of the multinational enterprise evolution (MNE).

MNE is a long-standing phenomenon and an historical perspective allows us to better understand the complex relationships between MNE behaviour and 'soft' dimensions (such as culture, information transfer, politics etc.) both in the home and in the host countries.

After a short theoretical introduction, the course will portray the evolution of MNE during three paradigmatic periods: the dawn of the Industrial Era, the Second Industrial Revolution, the post-Second World War years. The final lesson will offer an insight into the recent globalisation phenomena, explaining their historical roots and debunking some of the myths often associated with contemporary MNEs.

1     Introduction

1.1  Course generalities

1.2   Introduction of the main topics through the analysis of the documentary “Assignment:   Venezuela” (1956, Creole Oil Co.)

 

2     A theoretical approach

2.1 MNE: why history matters?

2.2  Elements of business history

 

3     MNE in the Age of the Free Trade

3.1  Early-modern MNEs

3.2   The free standing company

 

4     The MNE in the Second Industrial Revolution (1870-1914) 

4.1  Big business and MNE (A.D. Chandler's model)

4.2  MNE and protectionism between the two World Wars

 

5     MNE in a 'half-globalised' world

5.1  Rise and fall of the American model

5.2 MNE, cold war and nationalism

 

6     The present challenges: MNE and globalisation

Students will be evaluated on:

·        Attendance and class participation

·        A final multiple choice test

·        A 1500-2000 words paper (preparation of a MNE case)

·        Mira Wilkins, 'The Free-Standing Company, 1870-1914: An Important Type of British Foreign Direct Investment', The Economic History Review, Vol. 41, No. 2 (May, 1988), pp. 259-282 [http://www.biblio.liuc.it:2115/stable/pdfplus/2596058.pdf]

·        Geoffrey Jones, 'Foreign Multinationals and British Industry before 1945', The Economic History Review, Vol. 41, No. 3 (Aug., 1988), pp. 429-453 [http://www.biblio.liuc.it:2115/stable/pdfplus/2597369.pdf]

·        Marcelo Bucheli, 'Multinational corporations, totalitarian regimes and economic nationalism: United Fruit Company in Central America, 1899-1975', Business History, Vol. 50, No. 4 (July, 2008), pp. 433-454

·        Pun Ngai, 'Global Production, Company Codes of Conduct, and Labor Conditions in China: A Case Study of Two Factories', The China Journal, No. 54 (Jul., 2005), pp. 101-113 [http://www.biblio.liuc.it:2115/stable/pdfplus/20066068.pdf]

 

Additional material will be listed at the beginning of the course