Database

The Scope database was set up in 1997 under the overall supervision of Prof. dr. Rob van Tulder. Since then a team of student assistants have provided input for the database. Input is also partly provided through collaboration with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) – Division on Investment, Technology and Enterprise Development. Outcomes of this collaboration can also be found in the annual World Investment Reports, which are published by UNCTAD. Since 1997 parts of the Scope Database have been published in these reports.

The Scope database is an extensive collection of data on the international trajectories and international presence of the world’s core companies. The database now includes over 9000 entries on over 500 companies. Most companies are covered from the year 1990 onwards, but some have entries dating even further back.

The data includes annual figures on assets, sales and employees. The focal point of the Scope database however is its inclusion of geographical information on these three operational figures. The database gives a very direct overview of the degree of internationalization of a company with respect to assets, sales and employees, over an extensive time period. Not only can the current situation be assessed with information from the database, but also the development over time.

Another important feature of the database is the specific geographic information it provides. Not only does the database include the degree of internationalization, but it also includes (where possible) where this degree comes from. In other words, the Scope database shows in what geographic areas in the world a core company is present in the form of assets, sales and employees.

Next to the extensive time-period that is covered and the detail of its geographical information, the Scope database sets itself apart from other databases on internationalization by the high quality of the data. Numerous hours of work and a keen eye for detail by all staff that works on the database ensure that only the most trusted sources are used to obtain data, and that this data is precise and regularly checked.