THE IMPACT OF TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATIONS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND INVESTMENT PROCESSES IN THE CONTEXT OF GLOBAL TRANSFORMATIONS

Abstract

Transnational corporations (TNCs) are increasingly acting not only as participants but also as key drivers of structural changes in the global economy, determining the directions of international trade, investment activities, and technological development. Therefore, studying the specific features of the impact of TNCs on international economic processes is of significant theoretical and practical importance for the development of effective economic policies in the context of global transformations. The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of transnational corporations on the development of international trade and investment processes under conditions of global transformations, as well as to identify current trends in the functioning of TNCs in the world economy. The research is based on the application of systemic analysis, comparative analysis, statistical generalization, economic analysis, and graphical interpretation of results. The information base of the study includes materials from UNCTAD, WTO, OECD, IMF, the World Bank, as well as scientific works of domestic and foreign scholars. The findings indicate that transnational corporations remain leading actors in international economic relations and account for a significant share of global trade and foreign direct investment flows. The study confirms that TNCs are major drivers of global value chain formation, international technology transfer, and innovation development. It is substantiated that current global transformations, including digitalization, production regionalization, increasing geopolitical risks, and the implementation of ESG approaches, significantly influence the strategies and activities of transnational corporations. The results of the study demonstrate that TNCs continue to play a crucial role in the global economy and largely determine the development trends of international trade and investment processes. The future development of transnational corporations will be shaped by the level of digitalization, business sustainability practices, and the transformation of global value chains.