At the beginning of the second half of the 20th century, the famous futurologist J. K. Gelbraith devoted his analysis to the role of the corporation, the work “New Industrial Society”, where he noted that two types had formed - the world of corporations, and the sphere of small owners, which were very different from each other. The one that is represented by large corporations, the scientist called the "industrial system", in it, as a rule, the index of industrial production is the most optimal. The largest corporations form the core of the industrial system, which is the defining characteristic of an industrial society.
And although at the beginning of the XXI century they talk about a “post-industrial society”, “information”, “knowledge”, etc. the industrial basis has retained its full significance. In recent decades, corporations, and especially TNCs, have been criticized in the media, and in many cases for good reason. This can be confirmed by a report at the World Economic Forum (Davos), initiated by 40 leading corporate managers from 16 countries and working in 18 industries. The report noted that urgent measures were needed to restore confidence in corporations. Of all the tasks of competitiveness, such as the index of industrial production, manageability and trust on the part of society, the last problem becomes central - trust.
Around the end of the last century, there has been a clear tendency in business, political and scientific circles to rethink the social role of corporate capital. But this does not mean, however, a direct return to the principles and norms of social responsibility of business at the beginning of the second half of the 20th century.
But still, one should not forget about the contribution of TNCs to scientific and technical progress, an increase in employment, investment activity and the development of nation-states as a whole. So, in 2004, of the 100 largest TNCs in the world, 85 were based in the EU, Japan and the USA. TNCs today provide the most optimal index of industrial production - the main parameter of the dynamics of the total value of industrial production, which reflects the ratio of current GDP in monetary terms to GDP in another period.
The most important feature of the development of modern corporations is their integration, which is understood as a system of spatial interactions for the free movement of capital. Today, corporate GDP accounts for about 60% of global GDP. And the number of employees is almost 57 million people. TNCs account for almost 1/2 of the R&D expenditures and 2/3 of research and development. Corporations also demonstrate a stable index of output, although this indicator is relative, but it fairly objectively reflects the dynamics of changes in the volume of material goods without taking into account price changes.
It is also difficult to overestimate the importance of domestic TNC markets. The general index of production costs, depending on the parameters of the cost of production and the volume of these types of products, contributes significantly to maintaining sustainable purchasing power.
The economic activity of corporations is primarily regional in nature, so a high index of industrial production is the property of a small group of countries. Today, about 72% of the turnover of the five hundred largest corporations belongs to the markets of the countries of the region of their affiliation. Such a corporate strategy is understandable from the point of view of the theory of transnational costs.
In addition, the corporation manifests itself not only as an economic institution, but also as a significant social one, because the economic performance of corporations allows us to conclude that they have a massive impact on social development, provided, of course, that this influence is positive.