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Reflections on the Hymer thesis and the multinational enterprise

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  • Teece, David J.

Abstract

Understanding the economic function of the multinational enterprise remains a seminal issue. Almost half a century ago, Stephen Hymer initiated serious scholarly inquiry into the theory of multinational enterprise by positing that domestic firms needed special advantages to go global and succeed. However, he failed to fully unlock the foundations of the posited special advantages. Moreover, he sensed that multinational firms could not exist in a (theoretical) world of perfect competition, and wrongfully concluded that pernicious market power must be associated with the overseas activities of the multinational enterprise. This article examines Hymer's contributions and hints at the need for an (intangible) assets/capabilities based analysis of the multinational enterprise.

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  • Teece, David J., 2006. "Reflections on the Hymer thesis and the multinational enterprise," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 15(2), pages 124-139, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:iburev:v:15:y:2006:i:2:p:124-139
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    2. Christos N. Pitelis, 2011. "Foreign Direct Investment and Economic Integration," Chapters, in: Miroslav N. Jovanović (ed.), International Handbook on the Economics of Integration, Volume III, chapter 1, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    3. Ilgaz Arikan & Ipek Koparan & Asli M Arikan & Oded Shenkar, 2022. "Dynamic capabilities and internationalization of authentic firms: Role of heritage assets, administrative heritage, and signature processes," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 53(4), pages 601-635, June.
    4. Marzieh Abolhassani & Seçil Hülya Danakol, 2019. "Wage and competition channels of foreign direct investment and new firm entry," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 53(4), pages 935-960, December.
    5. Lin, Chinho & Chang, Chia-Chi, 2015. "The effect of technological diversification on organizational performance: An empirical study of S&P 500 manufacturing firms," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 90(PB), pages 575-586.
    6. Clougherty, Joseph A. & Zhang, Nan, 2023. "Antitrust policy and inward FDI: The impact of policy risk and uncertainty on U.S. inward-FDI flows," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(4).
    7. Christos Pitelis, 2007. "Edith Penrose and a learning-based perspective on the MNE and OLI," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 47(2), pages 207-219, March.
    8. Angels Pelegrín & Catalina Bolancé, 2011. "Offshoring and company characteristics: some evidence from the analysis of Spanish firm data," Working Papers 2011/16, Institut d'Economia de Barcelona (IEB).
    9. Ayden, Yuksel & Tatoglu, Ekrem & Glaister, Keith W. & Demirbag, Mehmet, 2021. "Exploring the internationalization strategies of Turkish multinationals: A multi-perspective analysis," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 27(3).
    10. Leonardo Costa Ribeiro & Márcia Siqueira Rapini & Leandro Alves Silva & Eduardo da Motta e Albuquerque, 2017. "Cross-border co-authorships in scientific articles and knowledge flows: implications for investigating an emerging international system of innovation," Textos para Discussão Cedeplar-UFMG 553, Cedeplar, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais.
    11. Christos N. Pitelis & David J. Teece, 2010. "Cross-border market co-creation, dynamic capabilities and the entrepreneurial theory of the multinational enterprise," Industrial and Corporate Change, Oxford University Press, vol. 19(4), pages 1247-1270, August.
    12. Darshana Mudalige & Noor Azizi Ismail & Marlin Abdul Malek, 2019. "Exploring the Role of Individual Level and Firm Level Dynamic Capabilities in SMEs’ Internationalization," Journal of International Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 17(1), pages 41-74, March.
    13. Angels Pelegrín & Catalina Bolancé, 2011. "Offshoring and company characteristics: some evidence from the analysis of Spanish firm data," Working Papers 2011/16, Institut d'Economia de Barcelona (IEB).
    14. Mie Augier & David J. Teece, 2007. "Dynamic capabilities and multinational enterprise: Penrosean insights and omissions," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 47(2), pages 175-192, March.
    15. Joseph A. Clougherty & Jin Uk Kim & Bradley R. Skousen & Florian Szücs, 2017. "The Foundations of International Business: Cross-Border Investment Activity and the Balance between Market-Power and Efficiency Effects," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 54(3), pages 340-365, May.
    16. Pitelis, Christos, 2009. "Edith Penrose’s ‘The Theory of the Growth of the Firm’ Fifty Years Later," MPRA Paper 23180, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    17. Buckley, Peter J., 2011. "The theory of international business pre-Hymer," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 46(1), pages 61-73, January.

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