Risk propensity in the foreign direct investment location decision of emerging multinationals

Peter J Buckley (), Liang Chen (), L Jeremy Clegg () and Hinrich Voss ()
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Peter J Buckley: University of Leeds
Liang Chen: University of Sussex
L Jeremy Clegg: University of Leeds
Hinrich Voss: University of Leeds

Journal of International Business Studies, 2018, vol. 49, issue 2, No 2, 153-171

Abstract: Abstract A distinguishing feature of emerging economy multinationals is their apparent tolerance for host country institutional risk. Employing behavioral decision theory and quasi-experimental data, we find that managers’ domestic experience satisfaction increases their relative risk propensity regarding controllable risk (legally protectable loss), but decreases their tendency to accept noncontrollable risk (e.g., political instability). In contrast, firms’ potential slack reduces relative risk propensity regarding controllable risk, yet amplifies the tendency to take noncontrollable risk. We suggest that these counterbalancing effects might help explain prior ambiguous findings on the relationship between experience, slack, and FDI decisions. The study provides a new understanding of why firms exhibit heterogeneous responses to host country risks, and the varying effects of institutions.

Keywords: decision-making; country risk; heterogeneity; domestic experience; slack; quasi-experimentation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (42)

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DOI: 10.1057/s41267-017-0126-4

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