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How Do Smaller Firms Select Foreign Markets?

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  • Musso, Fabio
  • Francioni, Barbara

Abstract

The purpose of this paper was to analyze the internationalization of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in relation to international market selection (IMS). To accomplish this, an investigation of the primary factors influencing SMEs’ choice when selecting international market in a systematic way was conducted. In addition we sought to understand whether there was a relationship between the systematic approach in IMS and the characteristics of SMEs. Results revealed that the majority of SMEs adopt a non-systematic IMS. However, in the case of SMEs following a systematic approach to IMS, the study pointed out that SMEs are influenced by firm-specific and host country factors, but not by entry barriers like geographic and cultural distance. In addition, results illustrated the existence of a relationship between systematic IMS and firm size.

Suggested Citation

  • Musso, Fabio & Francioni, Barbara, 2012. "How Do Smaller Firms Select Foreign Markets?," MPRA Paper 49117, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 02 Nov 2012.
    • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:49117
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Maryem Cherni, 2016. "The Role of Information Diffusion on Farmers Good Agricultural Practices: A Social Network Point of View – The Case of the French Agro-Environmental Practices," The International Journal of Economic Behavior - IJEB, Faculty of Business and Administration, University of Bucharest, vol. 6(1), pages 31-40.
    2. repec:but:manage:v:4:y:2014:i:1:p:3-16 is not listed on IDEAS
    3. Barbara Francioni & Barbara Francioni, 2017. "The Italian Sounding Phenomenon: The Case Of Germany," The International Journal of Economic Behavior - IJEB, Faculty of Business and Administration, University of Bucharest, vol. 7(1), pages 39-50.
    4. Fonfara Krzysztof & Hauke-Lopes Aleksandra & Soniewicki Marcin, 2021. "Does Psychic Distance Still Matter? Empirical Evidence from Poland," Journal of Management and Business Administration. Central Europe, Sciendo, vol. 29(4), pages 32-56, December.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    International market selection; Small and medium-sized enterprises; International strategy; Systematic and non-systematic approaches;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D92 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Intertemporal Firm Choice, Investment, Capacity, and Financing
    • M16 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - International Business Administration
    • M21 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Economics - - - Business Economics
    • M31 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Marketing and Advertising - - - Marketing

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