Apple's Global Operations and Impact
Apple's become a tech giant worth over a trillion dollars, employing 98,000+ people across 435 retail stores worldwide. The company's spatial organisation cleverly spreads different functions across the globe - research happens in California, manufacturing in China, and European operations run from Ireland.
Cupertino, California serves as Apple's headquarters and main research centre, where the company designs products like iPhones and iPads for wealthy, educated young consumers. Meanwhile, Shenzen, China handles the actual manufacturing through factories owned by Foxconn, taking advantage of China's first special economic zone with lower labour costs.
Apple's Cork, Ireland facility acts as the European headquarters, chosen strategically for Ireland's incredibly low 12.5% corporation tax rate - the lowest in Western Europe. However, this has led to accusations of tax evasion, with the EU demanding up to €13 billion in back taxes through Apple's "sweetheart deal" with the Irish government.
The company's success comes from vertical integration - owning everything from headquarters to retail shops - and targeting premium markets with stylish, high-priced products. Yet this global expansion raises serious questions about worker treatment and environmental responsibility.
Key Point: Apple's global strategy perfectly demonstrates how multinational corporations use different countries for different advantages - cheap labour here, low taxes there, skilled workers elsewhere.