Firms In The International Economy

Presents a new research program that is transforming the study of international trade. Until a few years ago, models of international trade did not recognize the heterogeneity of firms and exporters, and could not provide good explanations of international production networks. Now such models exist and are explored in this volume.

Combining economics and business perspectives, this undergraduate textbook explores key principles of the world economy through a uniquely integrated lens.

Despite their common roots, international economics (IE) and international business (IB) have developed into two distinct fields of study. Economists have directed their efforts at formalizing the workings of international trade and investment at the macroeconomic level; business scholars have relied more on data-driven conceptual narratives than mathematical tools. But the recent focus of IE literature on firm heterogeneity suggests that IE would benefit from IB analyses of the behavior and organization of the internationalizing firm. The contributions to this volume investigate ways that insights from IB can enrich IE research in firm heterogeneity. The contributors discuss firm-specific advantages in international trade and investment, considering the firm as the unit of analysis and managerial inputs as a variable in market entry decisions; analyze interactions between a firm and its external environment, including local corporate philanthropy and institutional settings; examine the boundaries of the firm and organizational choices such as the make-or-buy decision; and investigate technology transfer and innovation offshoring, discussing the role of subsidiaries, inventor employment, and other related topics. Although IE and IB look at international firms from different perspectives, these contributions make it clear that there is a potential for a productive exchange of insights and information between the two disciplines --

Conclusion: 13.

Presenting a debate on multinationals that is grounded in sound economic arguments, the authors explain their conclusion that multinational enterprises are generally a force for the promotion of prosperity in the world economy.

This accessible introduction to the world economy and the theory and practice of globalisation argues that key topics in international economics cannot be understood without knowledge of international business. It reviews and combines insights from both literatures and applies them to real-world issues.

The adoption of pro-market economic reforms by emerging market economies in last two decades has transformed the institutional context for firms in these economies. The objective of this volume is to better understand how domestic and foreign firms have transformed their strategy, organization and management system in response to this change.

This book analyses the vertical relationships of firms in an international context. These relationships, Khalid Sekkat argues, have gained further relevance due to the notable increase in vertical specialization of production across borders in the past few years.