IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/mulfin/v69y2023ics1042444x23000294.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Home country environment and the downside risk implications of multinationality: Empirical evidence from Chinese SMEs

Author

Listed:
  • Zhou, Chao

Abstract

According to real options theory, a global network built through multinational investments endows a firm with a series of options for future development. These options can enhance a firm’s operational flexibility, reducing its downside risk. This study aims to investigate the home country conditions necessary to achieve multinationality’s downside risk effect in Chinese small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Using data from Chinese manufacturing SMEs from 2003 to 2021 and a Tobit regression model, this study finds that multinationality can significantly reduce the downside risk of Chinese SMEs. Moreover, the degree of home country economic openness and financial development can significantly enhance multinationality’s negative effect on downside risk. Further analysis suggests that the moderating effects of the home country environment are more prominent for state-owned firms than for privately-owned firms. Our findings emphasize the important role of a home country environment in achieving the value of multinationality’s flexibility.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhou, Chao, 2023. "Home country environment and the downside risk implications of multinationality: Empirical evidence from Chinese SMEs," Journal of Multinational Financial Management, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:mulfin:v:69:y:2023:i:c:s1042444x23000294
    DOI: 10.1016/j.mulfin.2023.100810
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1042444X23000294
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.mulfin.2023.100810?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. Linda Allen & Christos Pantzalis, 1996. "Valuation of the operating Flexibility of Multinational Corporations," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 27(4), pages 633-653, December.
    2. Lemmon, Michael L. & Zender, Jaime F., 2010. "Debt Capacity and Tests of Capital Structure Theories," Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 45(5), pages 1161-1187, October.
    3. Meyer, Marshall W., 2008. "China's Second Economic Transition: Building National Markets," Management and Organization Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 4(01), pages 3-15, March.
    4. Subramanian Rangan, 1998. "Do Multinationals Operate Flexibly? Theory and Evidence," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 29(2), pages 217-237, June.
    5. Keith D. Brouthers & George Nakos & Pavlos Dimitratos, 2015. "SME Entrepreneurial Orientation, International Performance, and the Moderating Role of Strategic Alliances," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 39(5), pages 1161-1187, September.
    6. Elhanan Helpman & Marc J. Melitz & Stephen R. Yeaple, 2004. "Export Versus FDI with Heterogeneous Firms," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 94(1), pages 300-316, March.
    7. Wang, Songtao & Yang, Zan & Liu, Hongyu, 2011. "Impact of urban economic openness on real estate prices: Evidence from thirty-five cities in China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 22(1), pages 42-54, March.
    8. Sophocles P. Ioulianou & Michael J. Leiblein & Lenos Trigeorgis, 2021. "Multinationality, portfolio diversification, and asymmetric MNE performance: The moderating role of real options awareness," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 52(3), pages 388-408, April.
    9. Prange, Christiane & Verdier, Sylvie, 2011. "Dynamic capabilities, internationalization processes and performance," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 46(1), pages 126-133, January.
    10. Yan, Bing & Zhang, Yu & Shen, Yanzhi & Han, Jian, 2018. "Productivity, financial constraints and outward foreign direct investment: Firm-level evidence," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 47-64.
    11. Niu, Baozhuang & Li, Qiyang & Liu, Yaoqi, 2020. "Conflict management in a multinational firm's production shifting decisions," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 230(C).
    12. Inessa Love, 2003. "Financial Development and Financing Constraints: International Evidence from the Structural Investment Model," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 16(3), pages 765-791, July.
    13. Boisot, Max & Meyer, Marshall W., 2008. "Which Way through the Open Door? Reflections on the Internationalization of Chinese Firms," Management and Organization Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 4(3), pages 349-365, November.
    14. Peter Gammeltoft & Jaya Prakash Pradhan & Andrea Goldstein, 2010. "Emerging multinationals: home and host country determinants and outcomes," International Journal of Emerging Markets, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 5(3/4), pages 254-265, July.
    15. Bogliacino, Francesco & Vivarelli, Marco & Araújo, Bruno César, 2011. "Technology, trade and skills in Brazil: evidence from micro data," Revista CEPAL, Naciones Unidas Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL), December.
    16. Glenn W. Boyle & Graeme A. Guthrie, 2003. "Investment, Uncertainty, and Liquidity," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 58(5), pages 2143-2166, October.
    17. Baltagi, Badi H. & Demetriades, Panicos O. & Law, Siong Hook, 2009. "Financial development and openness: Evidence from panel data," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 89(2), pages 285-296, July.
    18. Meschi, Elena & Taymaz, Erol & Vivarelli, Marco, 2011. "Trade, technology and skills: Evidence from Turkish microdata," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 18(S1), pages 60-70.
    19. Yuxiang, Karl & Chen, Zhongchang, 2011. "Financial development and environmental performance: evidence from China," Environment and Development Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 16(1), pages 93-111, February.
    20. Wei Huang & Agyenim Boateng & Alexander Newman, 2016. "Capital structure of Chinese listed SMEs: an agency theory perspective," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 47(2), pages 535-550, August.
    21. Robert M Grant, 1987. "Multinationality and Performance among British Manufacturing Companies," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 18(3), pages 79-89, September.
    22. Bui, Tung Duy & Bui, Hoai Thi Mai, 2020. "Threshold effect of economic openness on bank risk-taking: Evidence from emerging markets," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 790-803.
    23. Birger Wernerfelt, 1984. "A resource‐based view of the firm," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 5(2), pages 171-180, April.
    24. Minetti, Raoul & Zhu, Susan Chun, 2011. "Credit constraints and firm export: Microeconomic evidence from Italy," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 83(2), pages 109-125, March.
    25. Chan, Marc K. & Kwok, Simon, 2017. "Risk-sharing, market imperfections, asset prices: Evidence from China’s stock market liberalization," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 166-187.
    26. 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.
    27. Beck, Thorsten, 2002. "Financial development and international trade: Is there a link?," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 57(1), pages 107-131, June.
    28. Li, Jing & Xia, Jun & Shapiro, Daniel & Lin, Zhouyu, 2018. "Institutional compatibility and the internationalization of Chinese SOEs: The moderating role of home subnational institutions," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 53(5), pages 641-652.
    29. Stijn Claessens & Luc Laeven, 2003. "Financial Development, Property Rights, and Growth," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 58(6), pages 2401-2436, December.
    30. Wang Chen & Shigeyuki Hamori & Takuji Kinkyo, 2016. "Financial development and financial openness nexus: the precondition of banking competition," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 48(12), pages 1130-1139, March.
    31. Marshall W. Meyer, 2008. "China's Second Economic Transition: Building National Markets," Management and Organization Review, The International Association for Chinese Management Research, vol. 4(1), pages 3-15, March.
    32. Christiane Prange & Sylvie Verdier, 2011. "Dynamic capabilities, internationalization processes and performance," Post-Print hal-02312587, HAL.
    33. Byung Il Park & Sungjin J. Hong & Shufeng Simon Xiao, 2022. "Institutional pressure and MNC compliance to prevent bribery: empirical examinations in South Korea and China," Asian Business & Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 21(4), pages 623-656, September.
    34. de Meza, David & van der Ploeg, Frederick, 1987. "Production Flexibility as a Motive for Multinationality," Journal of Industrial Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 35(3), pages 343-351, March.
    35. Krammer, Sorin M.S. & Strange, Roger & Lashitew, Addisu, 2018. "The export performance of emerging economy firms: The influence of firm capabilities and institutional environments," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 27(1), pages 218-230.
    36. Andrew Delios & Zhi Jian Wu & Nan Zhou, 2006. "A New Perspective on Ownership Identities in China's Listed Companies," Management and Organization Review, The International Association for Chinese Management Research, vol. 2(3), pages 319-343, November.
    37. Max Boisot & Marshall W. Meyer, 2008. "Which Way through the Open Door? Reflections on the Internationalization of Chinese Firms," Management and Organization Review, The International Association for Chinese Management Research, vol. 4(3), pages 349-365, November.
    38. Claudia Buch & Iris Kesternich & Alexander Lipponer & Monika Schnitzer, 2014. "Financial constraints and foreign direct investment: firm-level evidence," Review of World Economics (Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv), Springer;Institut für Weltwirtschaft (Kiel Institute for the World Economy), vol. 150(2), pages 393-420, May.
    39. Tony W Tong & Jeffrey J Reuer, 2007. "Real options in multinational corporations: organizational challenges and risk implications," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 38(2), pages 215-230, March.
    40. Ghosh, Saibal, 2006. "Did financial liberalization ease financing constraints? Evidence from Indian firm-level data," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 7(2), pages 176-190, June.
    41. Stephen B Tallman & Oded Shenkar, 1994. "A Managerial Decision Model of International Cooperative Venture Formation," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 25(1), pages 91-113, March.
    42. Lin Cui & Fuming Jiang, 2012. "State ownership effect on firms' FDI ownership decisions under institutional pressure: a study of Chinese outward-investing firms," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 43(3), pages 264-284, April.
    43. Myers, Stewart C., 1977. "Determinants of corporate borrowing," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 5(2), pages 147-175, November.
    44. Rodolphe Durand & Robert M. Grant & Tammy L. Madsen & Lenos Trigeorgis & Jeffrey J. Reuer, 2017. "Real options theory in strategic management," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 38(1), pages 42-63, January.
    45. Yun Liu & Yifei Zhang & Heyang Fang & Xin Chen, 2022. "SMEs’ line of credit under the COVID-19: evidence from China," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 58(2), pages 807-828, February.
    46. Alan M Rugman, 1976. "Risk Reduction by International Diversification," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 7(2), pages 75-80, June.
    47. Adomako, Samuel & Frimpong, Kwabena & Danso, Albert & Amankwah-Amoah, Joseph & Uddin, Moshfique & Kesse, Kwabena, 2020. "Home country institutional impediments and international expansion of developing country SMEs," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 29(5).
    48. David J. Teece & Gary Pisano & Amy Shuen, 1997. "Dynamic capabilities and strategic management," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 18(7), pages 509-533, August.
    49. Bruno Cesar Araújo & Francesco Bogliacino & Marco Vivarelli, 2011. "Technology, trade and skills in Brazil: Some evidence from microdata," DISCE - Quaderni del Dipartimento di Scienze Economiche e Sociali dises1171, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Dipartimenti e Istituti di Scienze Economiche (DISCE).
    50. Aggarwal, Raj & Berrill, Jenny & Hutson, Elaine & Kearney, Colm, 2011. "What is a multinational corporation? Classifying the degree of firm-level multinationality," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 20(5), pages 557-577, October.
    51. Gunji, Hiroshi & Yuan, Yuan, 2010. "Bank profitability and the bank lending channel: Evidence from China," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 21(2), pages 129-141, April.
    52. Khan, Zaheer & Lew, Yong Kyu, 2018. "Post-entry survival of developing economy international new ventures: A dynamic capability perspective," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 27(1), pages 149-160.
    53. Mainela, Tuija & Puhakka, Vesa & Sipola, Sakari, 2018. "International entrepreneurship beyond individuals and firms: On the systemic nature of international opportunities," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 33(4), pages 534-550.
    54. Huynh, Nhan & Dao, Anh & Nguyen, Dat, 2021. "Openness, economic uncertainty, government responses, and international financial market performance during the coronavirus pandemic," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, Elsevier, vol. 31(C).
    55. Driouchi, Tarik & Bennett, David, 2011. "Real options in multinational decision-making: Managerial awareness and risk implications," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 46(2), pages 205-219, April.
    56. Jian Han & Yanzhi Shen, 2015. "Financial Development and Total Factor Productivity Growth: Evidence from China," Emerging Markets Finance and Trade, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 51(S1), pages 261-274, January.
    57. Bruce Kogut & Nalin Kulatilaka, 1994. "Operating Flexibility, Global Manufacturing, and the Option Value of a Multinational Network," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 40(1), pages 123-139, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    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. Sophocles P. Ioulianou & Michael J. Leiblein & Lenos Trigeorgis, 2021. "Multinationality, portfolio diversification, and asymmetric MNE performance: The moderating role of real options awareness," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 52(3), pages 388-408, April.
    2. René Belderbos & Tony W. Tong & Shubin Wu, 2020. "Portfolio configuration and foreign entry decisions: A juxtaposition of real options and risk diversification theories," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 41(7), pages 1191-1209, July.
    3. Elango, B., 2010. "Influence of industry type on the relationship between international operations and risk," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 63(3), pages 303-309, March.
    4. Nguyen, Quyen T.K. & Kim, Sylvia, 2020. "The multinationality and performance relationship: Revisiting the literature and exploring the implications," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 29(2).
    5. Tailan Chi & Jing Li & Lenos G Trigeorgis & Andrianos E Tsekrekos, 2019. "Real options theory in international business," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 50(4), pages 525-553, June.
    6. Huiwen Su & Feiying Cai & Yunting Huang, 2022. "Institutional constraints and exporting of emerging‐market firms: The moderating role of innovation capabilities and digital transformation," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 43(7), pages 2641-2656, October.
    7. Rodolphe Durand & Robert M. Grant & Tammy L. Madsen & Lenos Trigeorgis & Jeffrey J. Reuer, 2017. "Real options theory in strategic management," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 38(1), pages 42-63, January.
    8. 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.
    9. Penghua Qiao & Mengli Lv & Yuping Zeng, 2020. "R&D Intensity, Domestic Institutional Environment, and SMEs’ OFDI in Emerging Markets," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 60(6), pages 939-973, December.
    10. Quyen T. K. Nguyen, 2017. "Multinationality and Performance Literature: A Critical Review and Future Research Agenda," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 57(3), pages 311-347, June.
    11. Duanmu, Jing-Lin & Norbäck, Pehr-Johan & Lu, Jane Wenzhen & Clegg, Jeremy, 2022. "Contraction under minimum wages? Operational and financial advantages of multinational subsidiaries in China," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(2).
    12. Chong Wu & Siyi Bo & Xing Wan & Min Ji & Meihua Chen & Shifan Zhang, 2020. "Does the Choice of IJV under Institutional Duality Promote the Innovation Performance of Chinese Manufacturing Firms? Evidence from Listed Chinese Manufacturing Companies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-21, August.
    13. 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).
    14. Timo Kleiner‐Schäfer & Ingo Liefner, 2021. "Innovation success in an emerging economy: A comparison of R&D‐oriented companies in Turkey," Growth and Change, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 52(2), pages 963-989, June.
    15. Choi, Jongmoo Jay & Ju, Ming & Trigeorgis, Lenos & Zhang, Xiaotian Tina, 2021. "Outsourcing flexibility under financial constraints," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    16. Mario Daniele Amore & Margherita Corina, 2021. "Political elections and corporate investment: International evidence," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 52(9), pages 1775-1796, December.
    17. Aabo, Tom & Ploeen, Rasmus, 2014. "The German humpback: Internationalization and foreign exchange hedging," Journal of Multinational Financial Management, Elsevier, vol. 27(C), pages 114-129.
    18. Ioulianou, Sophocles & Trigeorgis, Lenos & Driouchi, Tarik, 2017. "Multinationality and firm value: The role of real options awareness," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 77-96.
    19. Huang, Yuanyuan & Xie, En & Wu, Zhan, 2021. "Portfolio characteristics of outward foreign direct investment and dynamic performance of emerging economy firms: An option portfolio perspective," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(4).
    20. Andersen, Torben Juul, 2012. "Multinational risk and performance outcomes: Effects of knowledge intensity and industry context," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 21(2), pages 239-252.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Multinationality; Downside risk; Real options; Home country environment; Economic openness; Financial development;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F23 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - Multinational Firms; International Business
    • G28 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Government Policy and Regulation
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    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:mulfin:v:69:y:2023:i:c:s1042444x23000294. 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/mulfin .

    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.