IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/reveco/v75y2021icp366-385.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The short- and long-run effects of foreign investments on firm performance: Evidence from Asia Pacific

Author

Listed:
  • Likitwongkajon, Napaporn
  • Vithessonthi, Chaiporn

Abstract

We study the implications of foreign investments for firm performance. Using a panel sample of publicly listed non-financial firms in 17 countries in Asia Pacific from 1990 to 2016, we examine whether firms with larger foreign investments perform better than those with smaller foreign investments and whether cost efficiency and revenue growth mediate the effect of foreign investments on firm performance. The IV-2SLS results show that firms with larger foreign investments tend to have poorer firm performance than firms with smaller foreign investments at both short and long horizons. The results further show that foreign investments are negatively associated with revenue growth and cost efficiency. We find no evidence that cost efficiency mediates the effect of foreign investments on firm performance; however, our findings provide some evidence that revenue growth partially mediates the relationship between foreign investments and firm performance.

Suggested Citation

  • Likitwongkajon, Napaporn & Vithessonthi, Chaiporn, 2021. "The short- and long-run effects of foreign investments on firm performance: Evidence from Asia Pacific," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 366-385.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:reveco:v:75:y:2021:i:c:p:366-385
    DOI: 10.1016/j.iref.2021.04.011
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1059056021000770
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.iref.2021.04.011?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. Atul Nerkar & Peter W. Roberts, 2004. "Technological and product‐market experience and the success of new product introductions in the pharmaceutical industry," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 25(8‐9), pages 779-799, August.
    2. Cosset, Jean-Claude & Somé, Hyacinthe Y. & Valéry, Pascale, 2016. "Does Competition Matter for Corporate Governance? The Role of Country Characteristics," Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 51(4), pages 1231-1267, August.
    3. Singla, Chitra & George, Rejie, 2013. "Internationalization and performance: A contextual analysis of Indian firms," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 66(12), pages 2500-2506.
    4. Bruce Kogut & Udo Zander, 1992. "Knowledge of the Firm, Combinative Capabilities, and the Replication of Technology," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 3(3), pages 383-397, August.
    5. Lenn Gomes & Kannan Ramaswamy, 1999. "An Empirical Examination of the Form of the Relationship Between Multinationality and Performance," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 30(1), pages 173-187, March.
    6. Dos Santos, Marcelo B. & Errunza, Vihang R. & Miller, Darius P., 2008. "Does corporate international diversification destroy value? Evidence from cross-border mergers and acquisitions," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 32(12), pages 2716-2724, December.
    7. Shin, Joonho & Mendoza, Xavier & Hawkins, Matthew A. & Choi, Changbum, 2017. "The relationship between multinationality and performance: Knowledge-intensive vs. capital-intensive service micro-multinational enterprises," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 26(5), pages 867-880.
    8. Aabo, Tom & Pantzalis, Christos & Park, Jung Chul, 2015. "Multinationality and opaqueness," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 30(C), pages 65-84.
    9. Zhou, Lianxi & Wu, Aiqi, 2014. "Earliness of internationalization and performance outcomes: Exploring the moderating effects of venture age and international commitment," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 49(1), pages 132-142.
    10. Jameson, Melvin & Prevost, Andrew & Puthenpurackal, John, 2014. "Controlling shareholders, board structure, and firm performance: Evidence from India," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 27(C), pages 1-20.
    11. Miller, Stewart R. & Lavie, Dovev & Delios, Andrew, 2016. "International intensity, diversity, and distance: Unpacking the internationalization–performance relationship," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 25(4), pages 907-920.
    12. Jan Johanson & Jan-Erik Vahlne, 2009. "The Uppsala internationalization process model revisited: From liability of foreignness to liability of outsidership," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 40(9), pages 1411-1431, December.
    13. Chen, Hsiang-Lan & Hsu, Wen-Tsung & Chang, Chiao-Yi, 2016. "Independent directors’ human and social capital, firm internationalization and performance implications: An integrated agency-resource dependence view," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 25(4), pages 859-871.
    14. Kalina Manova & Zhiwei Zhang, 2012. "Export Prices Across Firms and Destinations," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 127(1), pages 379-436.
    15. Doidge, Craig & Karolyi, G. Andrew & Stulz, Rene M., 2004. "Why are foreign firms listed in the U.S. worth more?," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 71(2), pages 205-238, February.
    16. Xiao, Simon Shufeng & Jeong, Insik & Moon, Jon Jungbien & Chung, Chris Changwha & Chung, Jaiho, 2013. "Internationalization and Performance of Firms in China: Moderating Effects of Governance Structure and the Degree of Centralized Control," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 19(2), pages 118-137.
    17. Baillie, Richard T. & DeGennaro, Ramon P., 1990. "Stock Returns and Volatility," Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 25(2), pages 203-214, June.
    18. Ferrell, Allen & Liang, Hao & Renneboog, Luc, 2016. "Socially responsible firms," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 122(3), pages 585-606.
    19. James R. Markusen, 1995. "The Boundaries of Multinational Enterprises and the Theory of International Trade," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 9(2), pages 169-189, Spring.
    20. Nathalie Moyen, 2004. "Investment-Cash Flow Sensitivities: Constrained versus Unconstrained Firms," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 59(5), pages 2061-2092, October.
    21. Fang, Vivian W. & Noe, Thomas H. & Tice, Sheri, 2009. "Stock market liquidity and firm value," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 94(1), pages 150-169, October.
    22. Joon-Ho Shin & Xavier Mendoza & Matthew Hawkins & Changbum Choi, 2017. "The Relationship between Multinationality and Performance: Knowledge-Intensive vs. Capital-Intensive Service Micro-Multinational Enterprises," Post-Print hal-01515121, HAL.
    23. Bruce Kogut & Udo Zander, 1993. "Knowledge of the Firm and the Evolutionary Theory of the Multinational Corporation," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 24(4), pages 625-645, December.
    24. Dang, Tri Vi & Xu, Zhaoxia, 2018. "Market Sentiment and Innovation Activities," Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 53(3), pages 1135-1161, June.
    25. Alfonso Irarrazabal & Andreas Moxnes & Luca David Opromolla, 2013. "The Margins of Multinational Production and the Role of Intrafirm Trade," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 121(1), pages 74-126.
    26. Bengtsson, Lars & Berggren, Christian, 2008. "The integrator's new advantage - The reassessment of outsourcing and production competence in a global telecom firm," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 26(5), pages 314-324, October.
    27. Doidge, Craig & Andrew Karolyi, G. & Stulz, Rene M., 2007. "Why do countries matter so much for corporate governance?," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 86(1), pages 1-39, October.
    28. Mezias, Stephen J. & Chen, Ya-Ru & Murphy, Patrice & Biaggio, Angela & Chuawanlee, Wiladlak & Hui, Harry & Okumura, Tetsushi & Starr, Stephanie, 2002. "National cultural distance as liability of foreignness: the issue of level of analysis," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 8(4), pages 407-421.
    29. Masaaki Kotabe & Srini S Srinivasan & Preet S Aulakh, 2002. "Multinationality and Firm Performance: The Moderating Role of R&D and Marketing Capabilities," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 33(1), pages 79-97, March.
    30. Schwarz, Christian & Suedekum, Jens, 2014. "Global sourcing of complex production processes," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 93(1), pages 123-139.
    31. René Belderbos & Leo Sleuwaegen, 2005. "Competitive drivers and international plant configuration strategies: a product‐level test," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(6), pages 577-593, June.
    32. Peter M. Demarzo & Michael J. Fishman & Zhiguo He & Neng Wang, 2012. "Dynamic Agency and the q Theory of Investment," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 67(6), pages 2295-2340, December.
    33. Fungáčová, Zuzana & Shamshur, Anastasiya & Weill, Laurent, 2017. "Does bank competition reduce cost of credit? Cross-country evidence from Europe," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 104-120.
    34. D Sethi & S E Guisinger & S E Phelan & D M Berg, 2003. "Trends in foreign direct investment flows: a theoretical and empirical analysis," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 34(4), pages 315-326, July.
    35. Patrick Legros & Andrew F. Newman, 2013. "A Price Theory of Vertical and Lateral Integration," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 128(2), pages 725-770.
    36. R. David Mclean & Mengxin Zhao, 2014. "The Business Cycle, Investor Sentiment, and Costly External Finance," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 69(3), pages 1377-1409, June.
    37. Sena, Vania & Duygun, Meryem & Lubrano, Giuseppe & Marra, Marianna & Shaban, Mohamed, 2018. "Board independence, corruption and innovation. Some evidence on UK subsidiaries," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 22-43.
    38. Likitwongkajon, Napaporn & Vithessonthi, Chaiporn, 2020. "Do foreign investments increase firm value and firm performance? Evidence from Japan," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 51(C).
    39. Fama, Eugene F & MacBeth, James D, 1973. "Risk, Return, and Equilibrium: Empirical Tests," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 81(3), pages 607-636, May-June.
    40. Favara, Giovanni & Morellec, Erwan & Schroth, Enrique & Valta, Philip, 2017. "Debt enforcement, investment, and risk taking across countries," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 123(1), pages 22-41.
    41. Ferrell, A. & Liang, Hao & Renneboog, Luc, 2016. "Socially responsible firms," Other publications TiSEM 07e115ac-fdcb-4c4b-a0b8-a, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    42. Shai Bernstein, 2015. "Does Going Public Affect Innovation?," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 70(4), pages 1365-1403, August.
    43. Kyläheiko, Kalevi & Jantunen, Ari & Puumalainen, Kaisu & Saarenketo, Sami & Tuppura, Anni, 2011. "Innovation and internationalization as growth strategies: The role of technological capabilities and appropriability," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 20(5), pages 508-520, October.
    44. Mezias, John M., 2002. "How to identify liabilities of foreignness and assess their effects on multinational corporations," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 8(3), pages 265-282.
    45. Kang, Hyung Cheol & Anderson, Robert M. & Eom, Kyong Shik & Kang, Sang Koo, 2017. "Controlling shareholders' value, long-run firm value and short-term performance," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 340-353.
    46. Michael G. Jacobides & Sidney G. Winter, 2005. "The co‐evolution of capabilities and transaction costs: explaining the institutional structure of production," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(5), pages 395-413, May.
    47. Fauver, Larry & Houston, Joel F. & Naranjo, Andy, 2004. "Cross-country evidence on the value of corporate industrial and international diversification," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 10(5), pages 729-752, November.
    48. Moro, Andrea & Wisniewski, Tomasz Piotr & Mantovani, Guido Massimiliano, 2017. "Does a manager's gender matter when accessing credit? Evidence from European data," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 119-134.
    49. Vithessonthi, Chaiporn & Racela, Olimpia C., 2016. "Short- and long-run effects of internationalization and R&D intensity on firm performance," Journal of Multinational Financial Management, Elsevier, vol. 34(C), pages 28-45.
    50. Mitton, Todd, 2006. "Stock market liberalization and operating performance at the firm level," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 81(3), pages 625-647, September.
    51. Dongmei Li, 2011. "Financial Constraints, R&D Investment, and Stock Returns," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 24(9), pages 2974-3007.
    52. 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.
    53. Francisco Pérez-González & Hayong Yun, 2013. "Risk Management and Firm Value: Evidence from Weather Derivatives," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 68(5), pages 2143-2176, October.
    54. Lewellen, Jonathan & Lewellen, Katharina, 2016. "Investment and Cash Flow: New Evidence," Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 51(4), pages 1135-1164, August.
    55. Choi, Jongmoo Jay & Hiraki, Takato & Landi, James A., 2014. "The value of multinationality and business group for Japanese firms," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 29(C), pages 88-110.
    56. Bhagat, Sanjai & Bolton, Brian, 2013. "Director Ownership, Governance, and Performance," Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 48(1), pages 105-135, February.
    57. Basu, Nilanjan & Paeglis, Imants & Rahnamaei, Mohammad, 2016. "Multiple blockholders, power, and firm value," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 66-78.
    58. N Capar & M Kotabe, 2003. "The relationship between international diversification and performance in service firms," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 34(4), pages 345-355, July.
    59. Hsu, Wen-Tsung & Chen, Hsiang-Lan & Cheng, Chia-Yi, 2013. "Internationalization and firm performance of SMEs: The moderating effects of CEO attributes," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 48(1), pages 1-12.
    60. Frijns, Bart & Dodd, Olga & Cimerova, Helena, 2016. "The impact of cultural diversity in corporate boards on firm performance," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 521-541.
    61. Sea-Jin Chang & Jay Hyuk Rhee, 2011. "Rapid FDI expansion and firm performance," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 42(8), pages 979-994, October.
    62. de Jong, Gjalt & van Houten, Jerry, 2014. "The impact of MNE cultural diversity on the internationalization-performance relationship," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 23(1), pages 313-326.
    63. Morten T. Hansen & Bjørn Løvås, 2004. "How do multinational companies leverage technological competencies? Moving from single to interdependent explanations," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 25(8‐9), pages 801-822, August.
    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. Tongurai, Jittima & Vithessonthi, Chaiporn, 2022. "Learning, foreign operations and operating performance," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 52(C).
    2. Muhammad Ateeq ur REHMAN & Furman ALI & Shang XIE, 2022. "Impact of Foreign Investment News on the Return, Cost of Equity and Cash Flow Activities," Journal for Economic Forecasting, Institute for Economic Forecasting, vol. 0(4), pages 112-127, December.
    3. Likitwongkajon, Napaporn & Vithessonthi, Chaiporn, 2022. "Internationalization, foreign exchange exposure and firm risk," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 83(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. Likitwongkajon, Napaporn & Vithessonthi, Chaiporn, 2020. "Do foreign investments increase firm value and firm performance? Evidence from Japan," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 51(C).
    2. Vithessonthi, Chaiporn, 2017. "Capital investment and internationalization," Journal of Economics and Business, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 31-48.
    3. Joonho Shin & Xavier Mendoza & Changbum Choi, 2022. "Do internationalizing business group affiliates perform better after promarket reforms? Evidence from Korean SMEs," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 39(2), pages 805-841, June.
    4. Vithessonthi, Chaiporn, 2016. "Capital investment, internationalization, and firm performance: Evidence from Southeast Asian countries," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 38(C), pages 393-403.
    5. Vithessonthi, Chaiporn & Racela, Olimpia C., 2016. "Short- and long-run effects of internationalization and R&D intensity on firm performance," Journal of Multinational Financial Management, Elsevier, vol. 34(C), pages 28-45.
    6. Zhang, Yufeng & Yang, Zhibo & Zhang, Tao, 2018. "Strategic resource decisions to enhance the performance of global engineering services," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 27(3), pages 678-700.
    7. Tongurai, Jittima & Vithessonthi, Chaiporn, 2022. "Learning, foreign operations and operating performance," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 52(C).
    8. de Jong, Gjalt & van Houten, Jerry, 2014. "The impact of MNE cultural diversity on the internationalization-performance relationship," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 23(1), pages 313-326.
    9. Hitt, Michael A. & Li, Dan & Xu, Kai, 2016. "International strategy: From local to global and beyond," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 51(1), pages 58-73.
    10. Bagheri, Mahshid & Mitchelmore, Siwan & Bamiatzi, Vassiliki & Nikolopoulos, Konstantinos, 2019. "Internationalization Orientation in SMEs: The Mediating Role of Technological Innovation," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 25(1), pages 121-139.
    11. Yong Yang & Pedro S. Martins & Nigel Driffield, 2013. "Multinational Performance and the Geography of FDI," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 53(6), pages 763-794, December.
    12. Afrifa, Godfred Adjapong & Amankwah-Amoah, Joseph & Yamoah, Fred & Acquaye, Adolf & Syllias, Johnny & Quaye, Enoch Nii Boi, 2022. "Regional development, innovation systems and service companies’ performance," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 174(C).
    13. Luo, Xueming & Zheng, Qinqin, 2018. "How firm internationalization is recognized by outsiders: The response of financial analysts," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 87-106.
    14. Mara Madaleno & Celeste Amorim Varum & Isabel Horta, 2018. "SMEs Performance and Internationalization: A Traditional Industry Approach," Annals of Economics and Finance, Society for AEF, vol. 19(2), pages 605-624, November.
    15. Buckley, Peter J. & Munjal, Surender & Enderwick, Peter & Forsans, Nicolas, 2016. "The role of experiential and non-experiential knowledge in cross-border acquisitions: The case of Indian multinational enterprises," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 51(5), pages 675-685.
    16. Sun, Wenbin & Price, Joseph & Ding, Yuan, 2019. "The longitudinal effects of internationalization on firm performance: The moderating role of marketing capability," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 326-337.
    17. Likitwongkajon, Napaporn & Vithessonthi, Chaiporn, 2022. "Internationalization, foreign exchange exposure and firm risk," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    18. Jaehong Lee & Young Soo Yang, 2019. "International Strategy, R&D Intensity, and Sustainable Earnings of Biotech Firms," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(17), pages 1-17, September.
    19. Robert-Nicoud, Frédéric & Olarreaga, Marcelo & Carrère, Céline & Fugazza, Marco, 2016. "On the heterogeneous effect of trade on unemployment," CEPR Discussion Papers 11540, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    20. 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.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Asia Pacific; Cost efficiency; Foreign investments; Firm performance; Firm value; Revenue growth; Strategy;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F21 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Investment; Long-Term Capital Movements
    • F23 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - Multinational Firms; International Business
    • G31 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Capital Budgeting; Fixed Investment and Inventory Studies
    • 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:reveco:v:75:y:2021:i:c:p:366-385. 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/inca/620165 .

    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.