Abstract
The paper reviews developments in measurement of globalised markets, and in activities of multinational firms which affect measurement issues. In addition to providing evidence on differences in structure of multinational units measured as reporting units in national surveys, it considers four aspects of globalisation which are affecting the business of the UK Office for National Statistics. (1) The effects of vertical disintegration in value chains, the increasing specialisation by firms in specific processes and some examples of what it means for measurement. (2) Measurement issues associated with national units in multinationals. (3) The role of intangibles, especially those which can be transferred within and between firms, or sold to consumers electronically without requiring any physical transfer. (4) Financial flows of capital, or payments for goods and services by multinationals.
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