FDI in retail would promote instability: Nobel laureate
Nobel laureate American economist Joseph Stiglitz today said that FDI in multi-brand retail in India would promote instability due to exploitative and corrupt practices adopted by MNCs to monopolise the retail markets in any country.
"The FDI in retail can promote instability by way of the exploitative and corrupt ways of the MNCs to hold sway over retail markets," Stiglitz said.
"India must take into account a prospect of instability before allowing FDI in multi-brand retail," he said while delivering a lecture on "Redefining Capitalism" here.
MNCs will bring in corruption and exploitation of labour force after setting up shops in India, he said.
Pointing that the retail giant Wal-Mart bribed officials at various levels in Mexico to monopolise the retail market there, he said, "May be, you want to learn bribery. But I don't understand what India is trying to get out by allowing FDI in multi-band retail."
Stiglitz said it would bring exploitation of the labour force and promote corruption.
"FDI can bring with it capital, technology, know-how, training and access to market and can promote growth and job creation. But the foreign firms can be even more efficient at exploitation, in one way or the other," he said.
Denouncing the pro-FDI in retail theory that it will improve the supply chain and enhance welfare of the farmers, producers and consumers, Stiglitz painted a gloomy picture of the retail scenario in India.
"Some of the MNCs are noted for their poor labour relations, workers' exploitation, discrimination and bribery," he said after pointing to the widespread agitation
