Big Business, Poor Peoples: The Impact of Transnational Corporations on the World's Poor - Hardcover

Madeley, John

3.92

89 ratings by Goodreads

9781856496711: Big Business, Poor Peoples: The Impact of Transnational Corporations on the World's Poor

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1856496716 ISBN 13: 9781856496711

Publisher: Zed Books Ltd, 1999

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Are transnational corporations (TNCs) the solution to poverty in the Third World or are they part of the problem? They are portrayed as bringing rapid economic growth, jobs and development - yet inequality between North and South, and within countries, continues to grow apace. So what really is happening? In this highly readable book, John Madeley explores this little-investigated aspect of large corporations. He looks at the impact on the poor of TNC activities in agriculture, forestry, fisheries, mining, oil extraction, manufacturing and tourism. He charts how natural resources are being ceded to TNCs at the expense of local communities. He reveals the weakness of the productive links between TNC activity and national economies, and how the power of governments to control these corporations is declining. Yet the news is not all bad. Producers, consumers, local communities, even shareholders are beginning to demand that large corporations take other obligations besides profit into account

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Review:

'At last - a lucid account of how multinational corporations which should be accountable are destroying the lives of the world's poor. Read it, and understand how we can regain control over the powerful forces that are shaping our future.' Barry Coates, Director, World Development Movement 'A searing indictment of contemporary corporate plunder, this book constructs an airtight case for international regulation of TNCs' Walden Bello 'Authoritative and highly readable. Madeley names the names and tells the stories to provide a clear answer to those who cling to the myth that foreign investment, transnational corporations, the IMF, the World Bank and UNDP are an answer to the prayers of the poor. An excellent book that should be read by everyone committed to ending global poverty.' David C. Korten 'Readable and persuasive?. A timely and cogent examination of transnational corporations, the engines that drive globalization.' New Internationalist 'An excellent book' African Farming 'A readable account of the increasing power of big businesses' Christian Aid News 'A sober and factual survey of a world economy dominated by big transnational corporations.' Socialist Review 'A grim account of exploitation and neglect.' Church Times 'A useful introductory critique of corporate involvement in developing countries .. [which] leaves readers knowing they have a lot of work ahead.' Multinational Monitor 'John Madeley produces the evidence which show that TNCs are not working to benefit developing countries? A very easy, but disturbing, read.' International Agricultural Development 'Readers will be spurred to use their voices as consumers, investors and voters to resist the monopoly power of the new 'global apartheid', a system which sucks the labour out of people and discards the skins.' Canon Christopher Hall, One World in The Door 'Brings much useful information together [and] asks many fundamental questions.' African Book Centre Book Review

Synopsis:

Are transnational corporations (TNCs) the solution to poverty in the Third World or are they part of the problem? This is John Madeley's central concern in this exploration of large corporations. TNCs are usually promoted as the harbingers of rapid economic growth, jobs and development generally. Yet inequality between North and South, and within countries, continues to grow apace. So what is really happening? The author examines the impact on the poor of TNC activities in agriculture, forestry, fisheries, mining, oil extraction, manufacturing and tourism. He charts how natural resources are being ceded to TNCs at the expense of local communities. He reveals the weakness of the productive links between TNC activity and national economies, and how the power of governments to control these corporations is declining. Yet the news is not all bad. Producers, consumers, local communities, even shareholders are beginning to demand that large corporations take other obligations besides profit into account.

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