ABSTRACT
British policy towards transnational since the mid-1950s has been unique amongst the countries studied in this volume. It has combined a warm, welcoming attitude towards inward investment and support for outward investment along with a lack of information over the activities and impact of transnational, whether foreign or British based. The contrasts with the countries at the other end of the policy ‘spectrum’—Japan and France-are obvious, but contrasts with the other so-called liberal countries-Germany and the United States-should also be highlighted. Both of the latter have taken the issues that they perceive as important more seriously than has Britain. More specifically, whether one considers the informal notification system with the banks and the role of the Cartel Office in Germany, or the information gathering measures in the United States, both of these countries have been more actively concerned than Britain with information on transnationals’ activities and impact.
