Skip to main content
  • 1044 Accesses

Abstract

The ‘economic school’ of thought has been tremendously influential in International Business (IB) research. Scholars adhering to this school (e.g., Anderson and Gatignon, 1986; Buckley and Casson, 1976; Dunning, 1977, 1988; Hennart, 1993; Hirsch, 1976; Rugman, 1981, 1986) focus on the advantages gained from internalising the firm’s foreign activities during its international expansion. Internalisation enables the firm to minimise the cost of economic transactions by better exploiting underutilised firm-specific capabilities (e.g., managerial skills and technology), which are superior to those of indigenous competitors.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Almor, T. and Hirsch, S. (1995) Outsiders’ response to Europe 1992: Theoretical considerations and empirical evidence. Journal of International Business Studies, 26(2), 223–238.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, E. and Gatignon, H. (1986) Modes of entry: A transactions cost analysis and propositions. Journal of International Business Studies, 17(3), 1–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buckley, P.J. and Carter, M.J. (2004) A formal analysis of knowledge combination in multinational enterprises. Journal of International Business Studies, 35(5), 371–384.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buckley, P.J. and Casson, M. (1976) The Future of the Multinational Enterprise. London: Macmillan.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Buckley, P.J. and Casson, M. (1979) A theory of international operations. In J. Ghertman and J. Leontiades (eds), European research in International Business. Amsterdam: North Holland.

    Google Scholar 

  • Buckley, P.J. and Casson, M. (1998) Analysing foreign market entry strategies: Extending the internalisation approach. Journal of International Business Studies, 29(3), 539–561.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Calof, J.L. and Beamish, P.W. (1995) Adapting to foreign markets: Explaining internationalization. International Business Review, 4(2), 115–131.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cantwell, J. (1995) The globalisation of technology: What remains of the product cycle model? Cambridge Journal of Economics, 19(1), 155–174.

    Google Scholar 

  • Casson, M. (1994) Why are firms hierarchical. International Journal of the Economics of Business, 1(1), 47–76.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Casson, M. (2000) The Economics of International Business — A New Research Agenda. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.

    Google Scholar 

  • Contractor, F.J. (1990) Ownership patterns of US joint ventures abroad and the liberalization of foreign government regulation in the 1980’s: Evidence from the benchmark surveys. Journal of International Business Studies, 21(1), 55–73.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DuBois, F.L., Toyne, B. and Oliff, M.D. (1993) International manufacturing strategies of US multinationals: A conceptual framework based on four-industry study. Journal of International Business Studies, 22(2), 307–333.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dunning, J.H. (1977) Trade, location of economic activity and the MNE: A search for an eclectic paradigm. In B. Ohlin, P.O. Hesselborn and P.M. Wijkman (eds), The International Allocation of Economic Activities. Proceedings of a Nobel Symposium in Stockholm. London: Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dunning, J.H. (1988) The eclectic paradigm of international production: A restatement and some possible extensions. Journal of International Business Studies, 19(1), 1–31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dunning, J.H. (2000) The eclectic paradigm as an envelope for economic and business theories of MNE activity. International Business Review, 9(2), 163–190.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dunning, J.H. and Narula, R. (1995) The R&D activities of foreign firms in the United States. International Studies of Management and Organization, 25(1 and 2), 39–73.

    Google Scholar 

  • Helpman, E. and Krugman, P.R. (1985) Market Structure and Foreign Trade — Increasing Returns, Imperfect Competition and the International Economy. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hennart, J.F. (1993) Explaining the swollen middle: Why most transactions are a mix of ‘market’ and ‘hierarchy’. Organization Science, 4(4), 529–547.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hirsch, S. (1976) An international trade and investment theory ol the firm. Oxford Economic Papers, 28, 258–270.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hirsch, S. (1989) Services and service intensity in international trade. Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv — Review of World Economics, 125(1), 45–60.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hirsch, S. and Hashai, N. (2000) Arab Israeli potential trade: The role of distance sensitive products. The International Trade Journal, 14(1), 1–35.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hofstede, G. (1980) Culture’s Consequences: International Differences in Work-related Values. Beverley Hills, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hymer, S.H. (1976) The International Operations of National Firms: A Study of Direct Foreign Investment. 1960 PhD thesis. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johanson, J. and Vahlne, J.-E. (1977) The internationalization process of the firm — A model of knowledge development and increasing foreign market commitment. Journal of International Business Studies, 8(1), 23–32.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johanson, J. and Vahlne, J.-E. (1990) The mechanism of internationalisation. International Marketing Review, 7(4), 11–24.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johanson, J. and Wiedersheim-Paul, F. (1975) The internationalisation of the firm — Four Swedish cases. Journal of Management Studies, 12, 305–322.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kogut, B. and Singh, H. (1988) The effect of country culture on the choice of entry mode. Journal of International Business Studies, 19(3), 411–423.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kogut, B. and Zander, U. (1993) Knowledge of the firm and the evolutionary theory of the Multinational Corporation. Journal of International Business Studies, 24(4), 625–645.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kotabe, M. and Swan, S. (1994) Offshore sourcing: Reaction, maturation and consolidation of US multinationals. Journal of International Business Studies, 25(1), 115–140.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krugman, P. (1991) Increasing returns and economic geography. Journal of Political Economy, 99, 483–499.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krugman, P. (1995) Development, Geography and Economic Theory. MIT Press: Cambridge, MA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuemmerle, W. (1997) Building effective R&D capabilities abroad. Harvard Business REview, March-April, 61–70.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kumar, N. (2001) Determinants of location of overseas R&D activities of multinational enterprises: The case of US and Japanese Corporations. Research Policy, 30(1), 159–174.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Linder, S.B. (1961) An Essay on Trade and Transformation. New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mariotti, S. and Piscitello, L. (1995) Knowledge costs and location of FDI’s within the host country: Empirical evidence from Italy. Journal of International Business Studies, 26(4), 815–841.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martin, X. and Salomon, R. (2003) Knowledge transfer capacity and its implications for the theory of the multinational corporation. Journal of International Business Studies, 34(4), 356–373.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Melin, L. (1992) Internationalization as a strategy process. Strategic Management Journal, 13, 99–118.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Narula, R. and Dunning, J.H. (1998) Explaining international R&D alliances and the role of governments. International Business Review, 7(4), 377–397.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Patel, P. and Pavitt, K. (1991) Large firms in the production of the world’s technology: An important case of non-globalisation. Journal of International Business Studies, 22(1), 1–22.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Patel, P. and Vega, M. (1999) Patterns of internationalisation of corporate technology: Location vs. home country advantages. Research Policy, 28(2 and 3), 145–155.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pearce, R. and Papanastassiou, M. (1996) R&D networks and innovation: Decentralised product development in multinational enterprises. R&D Management, 26(4), 315–333.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pearce, R. and Papanastassiou, M. (1999) Overseas R&D and the strategic evolution of MNEs: Evidence from laboratories in the UK. Research Policy, 28(1), 23–41.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rangan, S. and Adner, R. (2001) Profits and the internet: Seven misconceptions. MIT Sloan Management Review, Summer, 44–53.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rao, P.M. (2001) The ICT revolution, internationalization of technological activity, and the emerging economies: Implications for global marketing. International Business Review, 10(5), 571–596.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rugman, A.M. (1981) Inside the Multinationals: The Economics of Internal Markets. New York: Columbia University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rugman, A.M. (1986) New theories of the multinational enterprise: An assessment of internalization theory. Bulletin of Economic Research, 38(2), 101–119.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vernon, R. (1966) International investment and international trade in the product cycle. Quarterly Journal of Economics, 80, 190–207.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Williamson, O.E. (1975) Markets and hierarchies: Analysis and anti-trust applications. New York: Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Williamson, O.E. (1985) The economic institutions of capitalism. New York: Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zanfei, A. (2000) Transnational firms and changing organization of innovative activities. Cambridge Journal of Economics, 24(5), 515–554.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Copyright information

© 2010 Peter J. Buckley and Niron Hashai

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Buckley, P.J., Hashai, N. (2010). Firm Configuration and Internationalisation: A Model. In: Foreign Direct Investment, China and the World Economy. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230248328_4

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics