West Germany - Expanding Where The Markets Are

The rapid expansion of West German exports in the 1970s has now been overtaken by the more rapid growth of West German FDI. The experience of West German multinationals reftects this trend; companies which invest abroad are largely concerned either with expanding into new export markets or with securing existing markets, motives ranking very much higher than the search for lower wage costs or cheaper supplies. Foreign employment and production figures for the top 40 West German MNCs are examined, together with their current strategies.