Why are some firms more internationally committed thand others? The role of knowledge, firm development stage, and optimism

Niels Bosma () and Dirk De Clercq

No N200408, Scales Research Reports from EIM Business and Policy Research

Abstract: In this study we use a unique data set to examine factors related to international commitment of owner-managed firms. We draw on different streams of research such as the knowledge-based view, the stage theory of internationalization and the new venture theory of internationalization to study firms involvement in foreign markets. Our results suggest that knowledge-based resources embedded in the management team and the firms attitude towards innovation increase international commitment. Further, consistent with the stage theory of internationalization, we find that firms demonstrate a pattern of steadily increasing foreign commitment. However, this latter finding was obtained only after taking into account the firms optimism in terms of future growth. Optimism among start-ups therefore may obscure the relationship between firm development stage on the one hand and international commitment on the other.

Pages: 17 pages
Date: 2004-05-19
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eim:papers:n200408

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