Globalization and location choice: an analysis of US multinational firms in 1980 and 2000

• 成果类型: Review
• 署名作者: Flores, Ricardo G.; Aguilera, Ruth V.
• 署名单位: University of Illinois System; University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS STUDIES
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0047-2506
• DOI: 10.1057/palgrave.jibs.8400307
• 发表日期: 2007
• 页码: 1187-1210
• 关键词: MNC foreign location choice; host country factors; GLOBAL STRATEGY; regional strategy; GLOBALIZATION

摘要

In this paper we examine foreign location choices of the top 100 US multinational corporations (MNCs) in 1980 and 2000. We first ask whether there has been a change in MNC foreign location choice in this two-decade period. Second, we explore the underlying reasons of location change by focusing on country-level factors, accounting for firm-, industry- and regional-level explanations. Our findings suggest, first, that the extent of MNCs' activities around the globe is more extensive than assumed by regionalists' arguments and well beyond Ohmae's TRIAD, but still less widespread than claimed by the globalists - the two main traditions within the globalization-regionalization debate. Second, we uncover an interesting de-locotion pattern in this period. Third, we develop an integrative framework where both economic and institutional-cultural arguments are shown to influence MNCS' foreign location choice in different ways. We conclude with a discussion of our findings, and provide suggestions for future research.