IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/ibn/ibrjnl/v14y2021i9p82.html

Doing Business in Emerging Market Economies: Challenges and Success Strategies for Western Multinational Corporations

Author

Listed:
  • Ashford C. Chea

Abstract

The purpose of this paper was to investigate and analyze the negative impact of emerging economies’ institutional challenges on western multinational corporations (MNCs) operating there. The content analysis methodology was used. The paper reveals that emerging markets’ institutional voids affect western MNCs in terms of cost of doing business, strategy development and overall competitiveness. The conclusions derived from the analysis is that despite emerging economies investment opportunities, rapid economic and demand growth, their competitive landscape can negatively impact western MNCs ability to succeed in these markets. This is due to imprudent policies and inadequate governance structures implemented by emerging market policymakers. The article begins with a brief introductory background of emerging economies. This is followed by objectives of the paper, research method, and the theoretical underpinnings for the motivations of western MNCs to pursue overseas markets in emerging economies. It then provides an analysis of the role and significance of emerging economies in the global economy. This is followed by a critical review of MNCs strategies in emerging markets, and effects of emerging market institutional challenges on MNCs. Then, the implications for MNCs competitiveness in emerging markets are examined. Finally, recommendations for success for both prospective and current MNCs doing business in emerging economies are explored.

Suggested Citation

  • Ashford C. Chea, 2021. "Doing Business in Emerging Market Economies: Challenges and Success Strategies for Western Multinational Corporations," International Business Research, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 14(9), pages 1-82, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:ibn:ibrjnl:v:14:y:2021:i:9:p:82
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/ibr/article/download/0/0/45774/48695
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/ibr/article/view/0/45774
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Klaus E. Meyer & Saul Estrin & Sumon Kumar Bhaumik & Mike W. Peng, 2009. "Institutions, resources, and entry strategies in emerging economies," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(1), pages 61-80, January.
    2. Shaghil Ahmed & Prakash N. Loungani, 2000. "Business Cycles in Emerging Market Economies," Money Affairs, CEMLA, vol. 0(1), pages 87-111, January-J.
    3. Amar K. J. R. Nayak, 2008. "Multinationals in India," Palgrave Macmillan Books, Palgrave Macmillan, number 978-0-230-22738-5, June.
    4. Tarun Khanna & Jan W. Rivkin, 2001. "Estimating the performance effects of business groups in emerging markets," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 22(1), pages 45-74, January.
    5. 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.
    6. Robinson,, 2010. "Developing the Third World," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521131506, August.
    7. Narcyz Roztocki & H. Roland Weistroffer, 2008. "Information Technology in Transition Economies," Journal of Global Information Technology Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 11(4), pages 1-8, October.
    8. Luo, Yadong, 2005. "An Organizational Perspective of Corruption1," Management and Organization Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 1(1), pages 119-154, March.
    9. Mair, Johanna & Marti, Ignasi, 2009. "Entrepreneurship in and around institutional voids: A case study from Bangladesh," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 24(5), pages 419-435, September.
    10. Nnaoke Ufere & James Gaskin, 2021. "Evasive entrepreneurship: Circumventing and exploiting institutional impediments for new profit opportunity in an emerging market," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(2), pages 1-22, February.
    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. Loon, Mark & Otaye-Ebede, Lilian & Stewart, Jim & Ahlstrom, David, 2026. "Business model innovation in traversing developed and emerging economies: An integrated systematic literature review," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 149(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. Liedong, Tahiru Azaaviele & Peprah, Augustine Awuah & Amartey, Abednego Okoe & Rajwani, Tazeeb, 2020. "Institutional voids and firms' resource commitment in emerging markets: A review and future research agenda," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 26(3).
    2. Akbar, Yusaf & Balboni, Bernardo & Bortoluzzi, Guido & Dikova, Desislava & Tracogna, Andrea, 2018. "Disentangling resource and mode escalation in the context of emerging markets. Evidence from a sample of manufacturing SMEs," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 24(3), pages 257-270.
    3. Richard Harrison & William Scheela & P. C. Lai & Sivapalan Vivekarajah, 2018. "Beyond institutional voids and the middle-income trap: The emerging business angel market in Malaysia," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 35(4), pages 965-991, December.
    4. Tan, Danchi & Meyer, Klaus E., 2010. "Business groups' outward FDI: A managerial resources perspective," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 16(2), pages 154-164, June.
    5. Schrammel, Tine, 2013. "Bridging the Institutional Void: An Analytical Concept to Develop Valuable Cluster Services," management revue - Socio-Economic Studies, Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG, vol. 24(2), pages 114-132.
    6. Susan L Young & Christopher Welter & Michael Conger, 2018. "Stability vs. flexibility: The effect of regulatory institutions on opportunity type," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 49(4), pages 407-441, May.
    7. Wu, Jie & Wood, Geoffrey & Khan, Zaheer, 2021. "Top management team’s formal network and international expansion of Chinese firms: The moderating role of state ownership and political ties," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(3).
    8. Martin Johanson & Luis Oliveira, 2024. "The Performance of Decision-Making Strategies in SME Internationalization: The Role of Host Market’s Institutional Development," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 64(2), pages 303-335, April.
    9. Franczak, Jennifer & Lanivich, Stephen E. & Adomako, Samuel, 2023. "Filling institutional voids: Combinative effects of institutional shortcomings and gender on the alertness – Opportunity recognition relationship," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 155(PB).
    10. Olga Golubeva, 2017. "Does Perception of Business Climate Differ Between Foreign and Local Investors. A Firm-level Study of Transition Economies in Eastern Europe and Central Asia," Applied Economics and Finance, Redfame publishing, vol. 4(2), pages 113-128, March.
    11. Adomako, Samuel & Amankwah-Amoah, Joseph & Dankwah, George Obeng & Danso, Albert & Donbesuur, Francis, 2019. "Institutional voids, international learning effort and internationalization of emerging market new ventures," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 25(4).
    12. Zhang, Hongjuan & Young, Michael N. & Tan, Justin & Sun, Weizheng, 2018. "How Chinese companies deal with a legitimacy imbalance when acquiring firms from developed economies," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 53(5), pages 752-767.
    13. Phuong V. Nguyen & Hien Thi Ngoc Huynh & Hoa Doan Xuan Trieu & Khoa T. Tran, 2019. "Internationalization, Strategic Slack Resources, and Firm Performance: The Case Study of Vietnamese Enterprises," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-24, September.
    14. Kalpana Tokas & Kartik Yadav, 2023. "Foreign Ownership and Corporate Social Responsibility: The Case of an Emerging Market," Global Business Review, International Management Institute, vol. 24(6), pages 1302-1325, December.
    15. Conti, Claudio Ramos & Parente, Ronaldo & de Vasconcelos, Flávio C., 2016. "When distance does not matter: Implications for Latin American multinationals," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(6), pages 1980-1992.
    16. Subrata Chakrabarty & A. Erin Bass, 2015. "Comparing Virtue, Consequentialist, and Deontological Ethics-Based Corporate Social Responsibility: Mitigating Microfinance Risk in Institutional Voids," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 126(3), pages 487-512, February.
    17. Ahmed Nazzal & Angels Monserrat Niñerola & Maria-Victoria Sánchez-Rebull & Maria Glòria Barberà-Mariné, 2025. "A systematic mapping review of foreign direct investment by multinational corporations in emerging economies," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 12(1), pages 1-18, December.
    18. Boddewyn, Jean J. & Peng, Mike W., 2021. "Reciprocity and informal institutions in international market entry," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 56(1).
    19. Mohammad Fuad & Ashutosh Kumar Sinha, 2018. "Entry-timing, business groups and early-mover advantage within industry merger waves in emerging markets: A study of Indian firms," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 35(4), pages 919-942, December.
    20. Hillemann, Jenny & Gestrin, Michael, 2016. "The limits of firm-level globalization: Revisiting the FSA/CSA matrix," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 25(3), pages 767-775.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • R00 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General - - - General
    • Z0 - Other Special Topics - - General

    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:ibn:ibrjnl:v:14:y:2021:i:9:p:82. 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: Canadian Center of Science and Education (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/cepflch.html .

    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.