ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the subject matter from a basically economic viewpoint and much less in political or social terms. It is concerned with the economic significance and implications of information, forwarded by the "dominant" unit as it is called in the original. To avoid misunderstandings, some comments about the relationship between economic and social policy are in order. A favourable "social climate" and satisfactory "industrial relations" are conducive to a better economic performance of a firm. The public discussion of cases, brought before the competent bodies - the Committee on International Investment and Multinational Enterprises (I.M.E.) of the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development - in itself exerts a healthy dissuasion effect. It is also noteworthy that the cases, brought before the I.M.E., have almost all been initiated by trade unions and were related to various issues of labour relations, including those connected with closures and reorganisations.
