ABSTRACT
According to Peter Dicken (2003) and Alan Rugman (2005) Royal Philips Electronics is one of the few truly global companies in the world. Nevertheless, the company still maintains a highly palpable presence in the Netherlands, including the location of its international headquarters, as well as those of its divisions, several technology centers and a number of manufacturing activities. Yet, whenever Philips relocates one of its activities from the Netherlands, Dutch newspapers express doubts about Philips’ future in its home country. A regular refrain is an often-voiced concern that Philips is gradually fading away, relocating more and more jobs to low-cost countries in Eastern Europe and Asia Pacific. The Dutch labor unions are worried as well, and try to secure guarantees for Philips’ employees in the Netherlands.
