ABSTRACT
The effects of the economic policies of governments and, increasingly, of multinational corporations may seem remote from everyday life. But:
■ a government decision to reduce the subsidy paid to a particular industry may show in the closure of facilities such as farms, mines and factories with direct loss of jobs;
■ a decision to provide start-up finance may, conversely, lead to the creation of new facilities by overseas companies and the creation of employment in the short or long term;
■ the decision of a multinational concern to relocate production facilities from, say, Scotland to China in pursuit – perhaps – of cheaper labour and lower safety, health and welfare standards will have direct local impact on employment and morale in the community.
