Globalization and multinational companies: What are the questions, and how well are we doing in answering them?

Abstract

This paper looks at the U.S. experience and uses it as a benchmark for identifying the key questions that are being asked about the role and influence of MNC's and the types of statistics that are required to answer those questions. The paper goes on to assess whether the U.S. statistics that are now available are adequate to help us answer those questions. Finally, it identifies steps that might be considered to address data weaknesses and to help policy makers and other data users -- both in the United States and abroad -- better answer the important questions that they now are asking about the impact of foreign direct investment.