Transnational Corporations in Electric Power Sector, 1947-1967: Continuity of Linkages

• Published in: Economic and political weekly 1981-07, Vol.16 (28/29), p.1189-1204
• Main Author: Subhendu Dasgupta
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Business structures; Corporate power; Corporations; Electric equipment; Electric power; Electric power industry; Industrial machinery; Manufacturing industries; Multinational corporations; Special Articles; Third World
• ISSN: 0012-9976; 2349-8846

Mere change of economic activities, from trade to manufacture, in the private sector or from manufacture in the private sector to manufacture in the public sector does not signify the end of linkages between transnational corporations and a third world country. If third world countries follow the same path of industrialisation and modernisation as the developed countries, there is no other way but to establish linkages with transnational corporations. If the target to be achieved and the way to achieve it are determined on the basis of their own resources of technology and capital, third world countries may come out of the orbit of the operation of transnational corporations. This study relates to the power sector in India between 1947 and 1966-67. The study is divided into four sections. The first section deals very briefly with the world electric power equipment industry and the position occupied by the transnational corporations. The second points out the role played by transnational corporations in the construction of power plants in India. The linkages established between the transnational corporations and the private sector in India in manufacture of electric power equipment is the subject matter of the third section. The fourth section shows the linkages of the transtional corporations with the public sector in Indiain the manufacture of electric power equipment.