The effects of direct investments and multinational corporations remain a highly contentious issue. The author traces here the reasons for the large number of diverging statements and comments on this issue and considers what political conclusions should be drawn from this wide variety of views.

Early this year the US Administration made reference to "a marked improvement in the relations between the EC and the USA over the period of the last three years" - an astonishing statement in the light of the mounting non-tariff obstacles to trade between the EC and the USA.

Weighty objections have been raised against stabilization of commodity markets through agreements. The drawbacks of commodity agreements can, however, be largely overcome if the rigid theoretical notion of a price fixed strictly for a long period is abandoned.

UNCTAD's Integrated Programme for Commodities (IPC) would come much closer to being realised, if the industrial and the developing countries could agree on creating the Common Fund. But the Fund remains in dispute. While the LCDs only want to discuss the details of its organisation, the...

This article proves that a good deal is to be said for an abandonment by the state trade countries of their financial abstention and for their active financial participation in the Integrated Programme for Commodities. At UNCTAD IV in Nairobi the Third World nations first presented their...

Few countries are as dependent on foreign trade as the Federal Republic of Germany. Its close ramifications with the world economy are reflected by an economic policy concept geared to the liberal trade system. The chances for a consistent continuation of this policy have, it must be said,...

Together with its "Report on the State of the Nation 1972" the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany presented an extensive collection of studies. Drawn up by 50 experts, the report on the development in the two German states should, according to Willy Brandt, contribute to facilitate...

Because of continuing Inflation and rising unemployment, Americans were beginning to feel rather frustrated with the Nlxon Administration for their non-actions on the economic front. As an answer to this growing feeling of anxiety the US-President introduced an economic programme which has...