Globalisation, power and politics — practice questions

TNC power: Control supply chains, investment flows; lobby governments; tax avoidance; brands shape culture (Nike, Apple).

Limits on TNCs: Nation-states regulate, tax, enforce law; WTO/UN frameworks; consumer boycotts and NGO campaigns; states still monopolise force.

Marxist view: TNCs express capitalist logic of core countries — power structural not just corporate.

Evaluation: TNCs extremely influential economically but depend on states for stability; not sole power centre.

Conclusion: Among most powerful economic actors, sharing power with states and institutions.

Step 1: Identify the Data

• Apple Inc. Revenue (R) = $383.3 billion
• Pakistan GDP (G) = $374.7 billion

Step 2: Choose the Formula

To find the difference as a percentage of the GDP, the formula is: $Percentage excess = ((R - G) / G) * 100\%$

Step 3: Calculate the Difference in Value

Difference = $383.3 billion - $374.7 billion Difference = $8.6 billion

Step 4: Calculate the Percentage Excess

Percentage excess = ($8.6 billion / $374.7 billion) * 100 Percentage excess ≈ 2.295%

Final Answer & Sociological Significance

Apple Inc.'s 2023 revenue exceeded Pakistan's 2023 GDP by approximately 2.3%.

This calculation provides concrete evidence for arguments about the immense economic scale of modern TNCs. That a single corporation's revenue surpasses the entire economic output of a country with a population over 230 million people illustrates the concept of TNC power. This economic leverage can translate into political influence, allowing corporations to negotiate favourable tax rates, labour laws, and environmental regulations with host countries—a process known as 'regulatory arbitrage'. This supports the hyperglobalist argument that TNCs are key actors in the global economy, potentially challenging the sovereignty of nation-states, particularly those in the developing world (the 'periphery' in World Systems Theory).