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Edith Penrose’s Theory of the Growth of the Firm and the Strategic Management of Multinational Enterprises

In: The Multinational Enterprise Revisited

Author

Listed:
  • Peter J. Buckley

    (University of Leeds)

  • Mark Casson

    (University of Reading)

Abstract

Foss (2002, p. 148) says, ‘Penrose’s work is, in the crucial dimensions, at variance with economic orthodoxy. ... It should be thought of as a contribution to economic heterodoxy.’ Penrose and Pitelis (2002, pp. 19 et seq.), in describing Fritz Machlup as ‘Edith’s supervisor’ at Johns Hopkins says, ‘A fascinating paradox is how Machlup, a doyen of neoclassical economics, should have been partially responsible for a work so far removed from the mainstream.’ Penrose has also been claimed as a feminist economist (Best/Humphries 2003). Our argument is that Penrose sought to create a theory of the growth of the firm which was logically consistent and empirically tractable. Her subsequent adoption as grandmother of the resource-based view has only limited validity, based on a selective reading of her work and in defiance of its holistic qualities. See the debate between Rugman and Verbeke (2002, 2004) and Kor and Mahoney (2004) and Lockett and Thompson (2004), the latter based on Penrose’s (1960) analysis of the Hercules Powder Company.

Suggested Citation

  • Peter J. Buckley & Mark Casson, 2010. "Edith Penrose’s Theory of the Growth of the Firm and the Strategic Management of Multinational Enterprises," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: The Multinational Enterprise Revisited, chapter 11, pages 277-300, Palgrave Macmillan.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:palchp:978-0-230-25046-8_11
    DOI: 10.1057/9780230250468_11
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. R. E. Caves & M. E. Porter, 1977. "From Entry Barriers to Mobility Barriers: Conjectural Decisions and Contrived Deterrence to New Competition," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 91(2), pages 241-261.
    2. Alan M. Rugman & Alain Verbeke, 2005. "A Final Word on Edith Penrose," Chapters, in: Analysis of Multinational Strategic Management, chapter 5, pages 61-74, Edward Elgar Publishing.
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    Cited by:

    1. Christos Pitelis & Alain Verbeke, 2007. "Edith Penrose and the future of the multinational enterprise: New research directions," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 47(2), pages 139-149, March.
    2. Alla V. VAVILINA & Lidiya N. LEVANOVA & Irina N. TKACHENKO & Svetlana V. OREKHOVA & Larisa Sh. KUDIN & Aleksandra V. KUPERA, 2019. "Interrelation between dividend policy and corporate reputation in Russian companies [CEO turnover and company performance: Sensitivity and empirical estimates]," Upravlenets, Ural State University of Economics, vol. 10(4), pages 2-13, September.
    3. Danchi Tan & Weichieh Su & Joseph T. Mahoney & Yasemin Kor, 2020. "A review of research on the growth of multinational enterprises: A Penrosean lens," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 51(4), pages 498-537, June.
    4. Li, Lei & Li, Dan & Goerzen, Anthony & Shi, Weilei (Stone), 2018. "What and how do SMEs gain by going international? A longitudinal investigation of financial and intellectual resource growth," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 53(6), pages 817-834.
    5. Hsu, Wen-yi & Shih, Stone, 2013. "From hybrid TV towards transmedia: Recent marketing advances of the New Media developments," 24th European Regional ITS Conference, Florence 2013 88502, International Telecommunications Society (ITS).
    6. Thomas Hutzschenreuter & Ingo Kleindienst & Christina Guenther & Martin Hammes, 2016. "Speed of Internationalization of New Business Units: The Impact of Direct and Indirect Learning," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 56(6), pages 849-878, December.
    7. Patrick Regnér & Udo Zander, 2011. "Knowledge and Strategy Creation in Multinational Companies," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 51(6), pages 821-850, December.
    8. Pattit, Jason M. & Pattit, Katherina G. & Spender, J C, 2021. "Edith T. Penrose: Economist of "The Ordinary Business of Life"," MPRA Paper 106375, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    9. Kano, Hirokazu, 2023. "Early internationalization and subsequent geographic expansion: An extended Penrosean perspective," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(1).
    10. Shameen Prashantham & Stephen Young, 2011. "Post–Entry Speed of International New Ventures," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 35(2), pages 275-292, March.
    11. Johan Karlsson, 2021. "Firm size and growth barriers: a data-driven approach," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 57(3), pages 1319-1338, October.
    12. Gupta, Parul & Chauhan, Sumedha, 2021. "Firm capabilities and export performance of small firms: A meta-analytical review," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 39(5), pages 558-576.
    13. Lee Li & Gongming Qian & Zhengming Qian, 2015. "Should Small, Young Technology–Based Firms Internalize Transactions in Their Internationalization?," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 39(4), pages 839-862, July.
    14. Harsh W. Mishra, 2012. "Book Review: Catherine A. Maritan and Margaret A. Peteraf (Eds), Competitive Strategy, Vols I and II," Vision, , vol. 16(3), pages 222-226, September.
    15. Peter J. Buckley, 2011. "International Integration and Coordination in the Global Factory," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 51(2), pages 269-283, April.
    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. Humaira Raffat & Danish Ahmed Siddiqui, 2020. "Does Openness, and Productivity Matters for FDI: A Global Interactive Analysis Based on the Complementary Role of Institutions," Issues in Economics and Business, Macrothink Institute, vol. 6(2), pages 1-21, December.
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    19. Andy Lockett & Johan Wiklund & Per Davidsson & Sourafel Girma, 2011. "Organic and Acquisitive Growth: Re‐examining, Testing and Extending Penrose's Growth Theory," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 48(1), pages 48-74, January.

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