The internationalization process of firms: From exports to FDI

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Conconi, Paola; Sapir, Andre; Zanardi, Maurizio
• 署名单位: Universite Libre de Bruxelles; Centre for Economic Policy Research - UK; Lancaster University
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0022-1996
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jinteco.2015.12.004
• 发表日期: 2016
• 页码: 16-30
• 关键词: Exports; FDI; uncertainty; experimentation

摘要

We examine how uncertainty affects firms' internationalization choices. We begin by unveiling a new empirical regularity: using a unique dataset that allows us to study the dynamics of firms' exports and foreign direct investments (FDI) in individual destinations, we show that most firms serve a market via exports before investing there. To rationalize this pattern, we describe a model in which firms are uncertain about their profitability in a foreign market and may experiment via exports before engaging in FDI. In line with this idea, we show that the probability that a firm starts investing in a foreign country increases with its export experience in that country. In more uncertain destinations, firms delay FDI entry, experimenting longer with exports before establishing foreign affiliates. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.