English Intensive Reading 吉林大学远程教育学院
Introduction Text Language Points
				Lesson 5 Text  ( Page 5)
			To the claim that multinational corporations transfer (17) technology, they reply: a) often the equipment shipped overseas is out of date; b) their technology is often unsuitable for many of the less developed countries where labor is plentiful and therefore cheap. One study actually showed that multinational corporations do not invest capital from wealthy countries, but prefer to finance their operations from the local economy. (18) In other words, they are simply transferring wealth from poorer countries to richer ones. Therefore, they maintain that instead of being the "engines of development", the multinational corporations are actually the"engines of impoverishment". These critics do not deny that consumption of the products of these corporations has risen in countries around the world. But they point out (19) that this so-called "Global Shopping Center" is available only to a very small portion of the local opulation. Therefore, although these corporations may break down (20) national frontiers they strengthen class distinctions, widening the gap between the rich and the poor, creating greater social injustice and instability.          The critics also deny that multinational corporations can lead to a more integrated world community.