IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/jbrese/v149y2022icp314-326.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Outward foreign direct investment by emerging market multinationals: The directionality of institutional distance

Author

Listed:
  • Tang, Ryan W.
  • Buckley, Peter J.

Abstract

We investigate how emerging market multinationals (EMNEs) choose locations for foreign direct investment (FDI) and how they determine the scale of FDI in host countries where formal institutions are more developed or less than their home country. Integrating internalization theory with the directionality logic of institutional distance, we develop theoretical arguments of cost-effectiveness related to FDI location and FDI scale in two institutional directions: host countries with more developed institutions than the home country and those with less developed institutions. We hypothesize that an EMNE’s likelihood of investing in the positive (negative) direction decreases (increases) with the increase in home–host institutional distance, but the investment scale increases (decreases) with increasing institutional distance. The FDI location choice varies among EMNEs with different levels of intangible assets, but the FDI scale does not. Our analyses of 3,297 EMNEs’ outward FDI in 100 host countries between 2004 and 2019 provide supportive evidence. This study extends internalization theory using EMNE-specific evidence of directional distance between home- and host-country institutions.

Suggested Citation

  • Tang, Ryan W. & Buckley, Peter J., 2022. "Outward foreign direct investment by emerging market multinationals: The directionality of institutional distance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 314-326.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbrese:v:149:y:2022:i:c:p:314-326
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2022.05.047
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0148296322004763
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.jbusres.2022.05.047?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Srilata Zaheer & Margaret Spring Schomaker & Lilach Nachum, 2012. "Distance without direction: Restoring credibility to a much-loved construct," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 43(1), pages 18-27, January.
    2. Alan M. Rugman & Alain Verbeke, 2005. "Subsidiary Specific Advantages in Multinational Enterprises," Chapters, in: Analysis of Multinational Strategic Management, chapter 6, pages 77-90, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    3. Ricardo G Flores & Ruth V Aguilera, 2007. "Globalization and location choice: an analysis of US multinational firms in 1980 and 2000," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 38(7), pages 1187-1210, December.
    4. Robert E. Hoskisson & Mike Wright & Igor Filatotchev & Mike W. Peng, 2013. "Emerging Multinationals from Mid-Range Economies: The Influence of Institutions and Factor Markets," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 50(7), pages 1295-1321, November.
    5. Oded Shenkar, 2001. "Cultural Distance Revisited: Towards a More Rigorous Conceptualization and Measurement of Cultural Differences," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 32(3), pages 519-535, September.
    6. Stephen J Kobrin, 1979. "Political Risk: A Review and Reconsideration," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 10(1), pages 67-80, March.
    7. Ryan W. Tang & Siegfried P. Gudergan, 2018. "A Meta-analysis of the International Experience–Ownership Strategy Relationship: A Dynamic Capabilities View," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 58(4), pages 541-570, August.
    8. Gelbuda, Modestas & Meyer, Klaus E. & Delios, Andrew, 2008. "International business and institutional development in Central and Eastern Europe," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, March.
    9. Luo, Yadong & Xue, Qiuzhi & Han, Binjie, 2010. "How emerging market governments promote outward FDI: Experience from China," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 45(1), pages 68-79, January.
    10. Zhu, Ying & Sardana, Deepak & Tang, Ryan, 2022. "Heterogeneity in OFDI by EMNEs: Drivers and trends of Chinese and Indian firms," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(6).
    11. Guy L. F. Holburn & Bennet A. Zelner, 2010. "Political capabilities, policy risk, and international investment strategy: evidence from the global electric power generation industry," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(12), pages 1290-1315, December.
    12. Robert Salomon & Xavier Martin, 2008. "Learning, Knowledge Transfer, and Technology Implementation Performance: A Study of Time-to-Build in the Global Semiconductor Industry," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 54(7), pages 1266-1280, July.
    13. Hausman, Jerry, 2015. "Specification tests in econometrics," Applied Econometrics, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA), vol. 38(2), pages 112-134.
    14. Nielsen, Bo Bernhard & Asmussen, Christian Geisler & Weatherall, Cecilie Dohlmann, 2017. "The location choice of foreign direct investments: Empirical evidence and methodological challenges," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 52(1), pages 62-82.
    15. Omar R. Malik & Masaaki Kotabe, 2009. "Dynamic Capabilities, Government Policies, and Performance in Firms from Emerging Economies: Evidence from India and Pakistan," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 46(3), pages 421-450, May.
    16. Oliver E. Williamson, 2000. "The New Institutional Economics: Taking Stock, Looking Ahead," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 38(3), pages 595-613, September.
    17. Trąpczyński, Piotr & Banalieva, Elitsa R., 2016. "Institutional difference, organizational experience, and foreign affiliate performance: Evidence from Polish firms," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 51(5), pages 826-842.
    18. Yasuhiro Yamakawa & Mike W. Peng & David L. Deeds, 2008. "What Drives New Ventures to Internationalize from Emerging to Developed Economies?," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 32(1), pages 59-82, January.
    19. Peter J Buckley & M Casson, 2003. "The Future of the Multinational Enterprise in retrospect and in prospect," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 34(2), pages 219-222, March.
    20. Rugman, Alan M, 1986. "New Theories of the Multinational Enterprise: An Assessment of Internalization Theory," Bulletin of Economic Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 38(2), pages 101-118, May.
    21. Kevin K Boeh & Paul W Beamish, 2012. "Travel time and the liability of distance in foreign direct investment: Location choice and entry mode," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 43(5), pages 525-535, June.
    22. Hernández, Virginia & Nieto, María Jesús, 2015. "The effect of the magnitude and direction of institutional distance on the choice of international entry modes," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 50(1), pages 122-132.
    23. Sartori, Anne E., 2003. "An Estimator for Some Binary-Outcome Selection Models Without Exclusion Restrictions," Political Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 11(2), pages 111-138, April.
    24. Steven Globerman & Daniel Shapiro, 2003. "Governance infrastructure and US foreign direct investment," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 34(1), pages 19-39, January.
    25. Tang, Ryan W., 2019. "FDI expansion speed of state-owned enterprises and the moderating role of market capitalism: Evidence from China," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 28(6), pages 1-1.
    26. Peter J Buckley & L Jeremy Clegg & Adam R Cross & Xin Liu & Hinrich Voss & Ping Zheng, 2007. "The determinants of Chinese outward foreign direct investment," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 38(4), pages 499-518, July.
    27. Bruce Kogut & Harbir Singh, 1988. "The Effect of National Culture on the Choice of Entry Mode," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 19(3), pages 411-432, September.
    28. Chuck C Y Kwok & David M Reeb, 2000. "Internationalization and Firm Risk: An Upstream-Downstream Hypothesis," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 31(4), pages 611-629, December.
    29. Contractor, Farok & Yang, Yong & Gaur, Ajai S., 2016. "Firm-specific intangible assets and subsidiary profitability: The moderating role of distance, ownership strategy and subsidiary experience," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 51(6), pages 950-964.
    30. Alvaro Cuervo-Cazurra & Mehmet Genc, 2008. "Transforming disadvantages into advantages: developing-country MNEs in the least developed countries," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 39(6), pages 957-979, September.
    31. Chikhouni, Abdulrahman & Edwards, Gwyneth & Farashahi, Mehdi, 2017. "Psychic distance and ownership in acquisitions: Direction matters," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 23(1), pages 32-42.
    32. Tieying Yu & Mohan Subramaniam & Albert A Cannella Jr, 2013. "Competing globally, allying locally: Alliances between global rivals and host-country factors," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 44(2), pages 117-137, February.
    33. Yadong Luo & Huan Zhang & Juan Bu, 2019. "Developed country MNEs investing in developing economies: Progress and prospect," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 50(4), pages 633-667, June.
    34. Sascha Kraus & Tina Ambos & Felix Eggers & Beate Cesinger, 2015. "Distance and perceptions of risk in internationalization decisions," Post-Print hal-02011127, HAL.
    35. Sjoerd Beugelsdijk & Björn Ambos & Phillip C Nell, 2018. "Conceptualizing and measuring distance in international business research: Recurring questions and best practice guidelines," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 49(9), pages 1113-1137, December.
    36. Peter J. Buckley, 2018. "Internalisation Theory and Outward Direct Investment by Emerging Market Multinationals," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 58(2), pages 195-224, April.
    37. Bersant Hobdari & Peter Gammeltoft & Jing Li & Klaus Meyer, 2017. "The home country of the MNE: The case of emerging economy firms," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 34(1), pages 1-17, March.
    38. Heckman, James, 2013. "Sample selection bias as a specification error," Applied Econometrics, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA), vol. 31(3), pages 129-137.
    39. Jeffrey M Wooldridge, 2010. "Econometric Analysis of Cross Section and Panel Data," MIT Press Books, The MIT Press, edition 2, volume 1, number 0262232588, December.
    40. Cavusgil, S. Tamer, 2021. "Advancing knowledge on emerging markets: Past and future research in perspective," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(2).
    41. Tang, Ryan W. & Buckley, Peter J., 2020. "Host country risk and foreign ownership strategy: Meta-analysis and theory on the moderating role of home country institutions," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 29(4).
    42. Tatiana Kostova & Sjoerd Beugelsdijk & W. Richard Scott & Vincent E. Kunst & Chei Hwee Chua & Marc Essen, 2020. "The construct of institutional distance through the lens of different institutional perspectives: Review, analysis, and recommendations," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 51(4), pages 467-497, June.
    43. Alain Verbeke & Nathan S Greidanus, 2009. "The end of the opportunism vs trust debate: Bounded reliability as a new envelope concept in research on MNE governance," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 40(9), pages 1471-1495, December.
    44. Li, Xiaoqing & Quan, Rose & Stoian, Maria-Cristina & Azar, Goudarz, 2018. "Do MNEs from developed and emerging economies differ in their location choice of FDI? A 36-year review," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 27(5), pages 1089-1103.
    45. Peter J. Buckley & Mark Casson, 1991. "The Future of the Multinational Enterprise," Palgrave Macmillan Books, Palgrave Macmillan, edition 0, number 978-1-349-21204-0.
    46. Jing-Lin Duanmu, 2014. "State-owned MNCs and host country expropriation risk: The role of home state soft power and economic gunboat diplomacy," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 45(8), pages 1044-1060, October.
    47. Luo, Yadong & Zhang, Huan, 2016. "Emerging Market MNEs: Qualitative Review and Theoretical Directions," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 22(4), pages 333-350.
    48. Kraus, Sascha & Ambos, Tina C. & Eggers, Felix & Cesinger, Beate, 2015. "Distance and perceptions of risk in internationalization decisions," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 68(7), pages 1501-1505.
    49. Alan Rugman & Alain Verbeke & Wenlong Yuan, 2011. "Re‐conceptualizing Bartlett and Ghoshal's Classification of National Subsidiary Roles in the Multinational Enterprise," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 48(2), pages 253-277, March.
    50. Konara, Palitha & Shirodkar, Vikrant, 2018. "Regulatory Institutional Distance and MNCs' Subsidiary Performance: Climbing up Vs. Climbing Down the Institutional Ladder," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 24(4), pages 333-347.
    51. Johannes G Denekamp, 1995. "Intangible Assets, Internationalization and Foreign Direct Investment in Manufacturing," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 26(3), pages 493-504, September.
    52. David M Brock & Oded Shenkar & Amir Shoham & Ilene C Siscovick, 2008. "National culture and expatriate deployment," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 39(8), pages 1293-1309, December.
    53. Srilata Zaheer & Elaine Mosakowski, 1997. "The Dynamics Of The Liability Of Foreignness: A Global Study Of Survival In Financial Services," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 18(6), pages 439-463, June.
    54. John Dunning, 1981. "Explaining the international direct investment position of countries: Towards a dynamic or developmental approach," Review of World Economics (Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv), Springer;Institut für Weltwirtschaft (Kiel Institute for the World Economy), vol. 117(1), pages 30-64, March.
    55. Christine M. Chan & Takehiko Isobe & Shige Makino, 2008. "Which country matters? Institutional development and foreign affiliate performance," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(11), pages 1179-1205, November.
    56. Tang, Ryan W., 2021. "Pro-market institutions and outward FDI of emerging market firms: An institutional arbitrage logic," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(3).
    57. Drogendijk, Rian & Holm, Ulf, 2012. "Cultural distance or cultural positions? Analysing the effect of culture on the HQ–subsidiary relationship," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 21(3), pages 383-396.
    58. Heather Berry & Mauro F Guillén & Nan Zhou, 2010. "An institutional approach to cross-national distance," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 41(9), pages 1460-1480, December.
    59. Katz, Ethan, 2001. "Bias in Conditional and Unconditional Fixed Effects Logit Estimation," Political Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 9(4), pages 379-384, January.
    60. Peter J Buckley, 1990. "Problems and Developments in the Core Theory of International Business," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 21(4), pages 657-665, December.
    61. Kaufmann, Daniel & Kraay, Aart & Mastruzzi, Massimo, 2010. "The worldwide governance indicators : methodology and analytical issues," Policy Research Working Paper Series 5430, The World Bank.
    62. Klaus E Meyer & Mike W Peng, 2016. "Theoretical foundations of emerging economy business research," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 47(1), pages 3-22, January.
    63. Peter J Buckley, 1988. "The Limits of Explanation: Testing the Internalization Theory of the Multinational Enterprise," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 19(2), pages 181-193, June.
    64. Edward I Altman & Tara K N Baidya & Luis Manoel Ribeiro Dias, 1979. "Assessing Potential Financial Problems for Firms in Brazil," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 10(2), pages 9-24, June.
    65. Daphne W Yiu & ChungMing Lau & Garry D Bruton, 2007. "International venturing by emerging economy firms: the effects of firm capabilities, home country networks, and corporate entrepreneurship," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 38(4), pages 519-540, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Bu, Maoliang & Xu, Liang & Tang, Ryan W., 2023. "MNEs’ transfer of socially irresponsible practices: A replication with new extensions," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 58(2).
    2. Zhu, Hua & Cantwell, John & Jia, Fei & Wang, Chengqi, 2023. "Location choice of Chinese outward FDI – An ethnicity-based population ecology perspective," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 29(1).
    3. Fleta-Asín, Jorge & Muñoz, Fernando, 2023. "Institutional distance and US-based international mutual funds’ financial performance," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 51(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Tang, Ryan W., 2021. "Pro-market institutions and outward FDI of emerging market firms: An institutional arbitrage logic," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(3).
    2. Tang, Ryan W., 2023. "Institutional unpredictability and foreign exit−reentry dynamics: The moderating role of foreign ownership," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 58(2).
    3. Trąpczyński, Piotr & Halaszovich, Tilo F. & Piaskowska, Dorota, 2020. "The role of perceived institutional distance in foreign ownership level decisions of new MNEs," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 108(C), pages 435-449.
    4. Zhu, Ying & Sardana, Deepak & Tang, Ryan, 2022. "Heterogeneity in OFDI by EMNEs: Drivers and trends of Chinese and Indian firms," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(6).
    5. Xie, En & Reddy, K.S. & Liang, Jie, 2017. "Country-specific determinants of cross-border mergers and acquisitions: A comprehensive review and future research directions," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 52(2), pages 127-183.
    6. Ana M. Romero-Martínez & Fernando E. García-Muiña & Agnieszka Chidlow & Jorma Larimo, 2019. "Formal and Informal Institutional Differences Between Home and Host Country and Location Choice: Evidence from the Spanish Hotel Industry," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 59(1), pages 41-65, February.
    7. Jane W. Lu & Hao Ma & Xuanli Xie, 2022. "Foreignness research in international business: Major streams and future directions," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 53(3), pages 449-480, April.
    8. Ryan W. Tang & Chengli Shu & Kevin Z. Zhou, 2022. "State ownership of Chinese firms and their outward foreign direct investment: Political and economic contingencies," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 39(3), pages 1097-1123, September.
    9. Munjal, Surender & Varma, Sumati & Bhatnagar, Ankur, 2022. "A comparative analysis of Indian and Chinese FDI into Africa: The role of governance and alliances," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 1018-1033.
    10. Buckley, Peter J & Cui, Lin & Chen, Liang & Li, Yi & Choi, Yoona, 2023. "Following their predecessors’ journey? A review of EMNE studies and avenues for interdisciplinary inquiry," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 58(2).
    11. Hernández, Virginia & Nieto, María Jesús, 2015. "The effect of the magnitude and direction of institutional distance on the choice of international entry modes," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 50(1), pages 122-132.
    12. Chabowski, Brian R. & Samiee, Saeed, 2023. "A bibliometric examination of the literature on emerging market MNEs as the basis for future research," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 155(PB).
    13. Konara, Palitha & Shirodkar, Vikrant, 2018. "Regulatory Institutional Distance and MNCs' Subsidiary Performance: Climbing up Vs. Climbing Down the Institutional Ladder," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 24(4), pages 333-347.
    14. Donnelly, Róisín & Manolova, Tatiana S., 2020. "Foreign location decisions through an institutional lens: A systematic review and future research agenda," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 29(4).
    15. Fuentelsaz, Lucio & Garrido, Elisabet & Maicas, Juan P., 2020. "The effect of informal and formal institutions on foreign market entry selection and performance," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 26(2).
    16. Wang, Molin & Yan, Haifeng & Ciabuschi, Francesco & Su, Cong, 2023. "Facilitator or inhibitor? The effect of host-country intellectual property rights protection on China’s technology-driven acquisitions," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(6).
    17. Mingo, Santiago & Junkunc, Marc & Morales, Francisco, 2018. "The interplay between home and host country institutions in an emerging market context: Private equity in Latin America," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 53(5), pages 653-667.
    18. Weilei (Stone) Shi & Sunny Li Sun & Daying Yan & Zhu Zhu, 2017. "Institutional fragility and outward foreign direct investment from China," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 48(4), pages 452-476, May.
    19. Kano, Hirokazu & Iriyama, Akie, 2023. "Host country corruption and MNE location choice: The view of institutional pluralism," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 29(3).
    20. Tang, Ryan W. & Buckley, Peter J., 2020. "Host country risk and foreign ownership strategy: Meta-analysis and theory on the moderating role of home country institutions," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 29(4).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:jbrese:v:149:y:2022:i:c:p:314-326. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/jbusres .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.