CfP: Location, Collocation and Innovation across National Borders

Call for Papers

Special issue of Industry and Innovation

“Location, Collocation and Innovation across National Borders:
Connecting the International Business, Economic Geography and Innovation Communities”

Full papers deadline: 31 December 2015

Guest Editors

Ram Mudambi, Fox School of Business, Temple University (USA), Rajneesh Narula, Henley Business School, University of Reading (UK), and Grazia D. Santangelo, University of Catania (Italy)

The distribution of economic value creating activities across space has intrigued scholars since at least the nineteenth century. Over the course of the last century, this phenomenon has been studied from different perspectives with economic geographers and regional scientists leading the trend. The growing interest in geography in the international business community is reflected in a number of special issues in IB journals. This special of Industry and Innovation seeks to expand the understanding of cross-border innovative activities along at least two dimensions.

First, traditionally international business scholars have focused on the organization of economic activities and less so on the characteristics of places (Beugelsdijk et al., 2010). In other words, economic geography has focused on the location, while international business scholars have examined the (multinational) firm. Second, the recent debate on the propensity of firms to collocate innovative activity remains lively. In particular, multinationals face collocation advantages and disadvantages when crossing international borders and selecting host locations (Narula and Santangelo, 2009, 2012). On the one hand, multinationals may wish to collocate with unaffiliated firms (e.g. suppliers, competitors, or customers) to internalize L-advantages in order to enhance and create firm-specific advantages. On the other, firms may either deliberately avoid collocating (Alcacer, 2006) or resort to strategies to monitor collocated partners (Narula and Santangelo, 2009) in order to limit dissipation of unintended knowledge flows. Both collocation advantages and disadvantages are not automatic and critically depend on the public goods nature of the Ladvantagesto be internalized, the level of competition, MNC technological leadership and insidership in the host location (Alca´cer, 2006; Alca´cer and Chung, 2007; Cantwell and Mudambi, 2011). Embeddedness in multiple local contexts creates opportunities, but also raises challenges, particularly in terms of stressing the bandwidth of managers who must handle the increasing complexity (Meyer et al., 2011). We are still missing a clear picture and a full understanding of the boundary conditions of collocation advantages and disadvantages. 

This special issue intends to offer a further forum bridging the international business community with economic geography, and start a new forum where these two communities could connect with innovation scholars. The ultimate aim is to achieve a fruitful cross-fertilization of the three fields in order to gain a more comprehensive knowledge of the organizational and geographical dimension of cross-border innovative activities. 

The special issue welcomes both theoretical and empirical contributions, which draw on different theoretical streams. Research adopting a variety of research methodologies is welcome, including qualitative, quantitative, and mixed- method approaches. Empirical studies should explicitly contribute to a theoretical agenda, and preferably be based on novel and exclusive data. Papers that are primarily descriptive are not welcome. Possible topics and research questions that would be appropriate for this special section would include, but would not be limited to, the following list:

1. What are the implications of the rise of knowledge-intensive intangibles for MNEs’ location and organizational strategies? Does this phenomenon provide new advantages for international new ventures? Does the rise of knowledge-intensive intangibles shift collocation advantage in disadvantages and vice versa?
2. Do MNEs exposed to multiple sources of knowledge dissipation need new strategies to protect their ownership advantages? Is modularity a panacea?
3. Would the nature of collocation advantages and/or disadvantages MNEs face in emerging markets be different than in advanced economies? Would the boundary conditions for collocation advantages be different in emerging market clusters?

Submission Process

Manuscripts of a maximum of 6,000 words should be prepared in accordance with Industry and Innovation guidelines and submitted by December 31, 2015 via the online journal submission system by selecting this special issue title. The online submission system for the special issue will open on December 15, 2015. No earlier submissions will be accepted.

References

Alcacer, J. 2006. “Location Choices across the Value Chain: How Activity and Capability Influence Collocation.” Management Science 52: 1457–1471.

Alcacer, J., and W. Chung. 2007. “Location strategies and knowledge spillovers.” Management Science 53: 760–776.

Beugelsdijk, S., P. McCann, and R. Mudambi. 2010. “Introduction: Place, space and organization— economic geography and the multinational enterprise.” Journal of Economic Geography 10: 485–493.

Cantwell, J. A., and R. Mudambi. 2011. “Physical attraction and the geography of knowledge sourcing in multinational enterprises.” Global Strategy Journal 1: 206–232.

Meyer, K., R. Mudambi, and R. Narula. 2011. “Multinational enterprises and local contexts: The opportunities and challenges of multiple embeddedness.” Journal of Management Studies 48: 235–252.

Narula, R., and G. D. Santangelo. 2009. “Location, collocation and R&D alliances in the European ICT industry.” Research Policy 38: 393–403.

Narula, R., and G. D. Santangelo. 2012. “Location and collocation advantages in international innovation.” Multinational Business Review 20: 6–25.



Professor Grazia Santangelo
Jean Monnet Chair International Business for European Union (IB4EU)
Department of Political and Social Science
University of Catania
Via Vittorio Emanuele II, 8
95131 Catania
ITALY

http://www.dsps.unict.it/content/scheda-docente?cf=U05UR1pENzNBNDlHMzcxSA==

General call for papers: Organizations and Markets in Emerging Economies (OMEE)

The Multidisciplinary Research Journal: Organizations and Markets in Emerging Economies (OMEE)

General Call for Papers

Journal website: www.om.ef.vu.lt

Organizations and Markets in Emerging Economies mission is to contribute to the development and dissemination of multidisciplinary knowledge on organizations and markets in emerging economies, to increase dialogue among scholars focused on more narrow research issues within the OMEE scope and, finally, to offer an outlet for high quality scholarship.

The journal takes a broad definition of emerging economies. As such, emerging economies include the transition economies of Central and Eastern Europe, Asian nations (China, India, Vietnam, and others) that are increasing their free-market systems, countries in Central and South America, and finally countries in Africa. Each of these regions faces unique challenges and we encourage research that highlights the uniqueness of the particular region or country, while whenever possible seeks to identify shared patterns of organizational and market behaviour across different emerging economy contexts and across emerging economy and developed economy contexts.

The submitted papers can take economic, sociological or psychological perspectives. The Journal is open for various types of articles:

• Review articles, which summarize and evaluate the current stock of knowledge on a specific issue;
• Conceptual/theory building articles, which develop propositions and outline directions for further research;
• Empirical papers, which study specific issues employing qualitative or quantitative methodologies.
• Other types 

Topics of special interest include, but are not limited to:

1. Organizational learning and change in emerging economies.
2. MNE’s in emerging economies.
3. Alliances, networks and clusters in emerging economies.
4. Corporate and functional strategies in emerging economies.
5. Market development and consumer behaviour in emerging economies.

We equally appreciate and encourage submissions by scholars from both emerging and developed economies. The strength of the journal is openness to contributions of scholars coming from diverse geographical contexts disciplinary backgrounds, theoretical traditions, and methodological approaches. This is reflected in the structure of our editorial board as well as in the way Journal assigns reviewers. Such philosophy and ensuing practice allows the double-blind peer review procedure to be rigorous, constructive, and stimulating, which helps advance research papers.

The submissions will be considered for upcoming issues of Organizations and Markets in Emerging Economies. For more information, please visit homepage of the Journal www.om.ef.vu.lt. Inquiries and papers should be sent by e-mail organizations.markets@ef.vu.lt.

Prof. Sigitas Urbonavicius,
Editor-in-Chief Organizations and Markets in Emerging Economies

Call for papers: The Competitive Advantage of Nations: 25 Years After

Special Issue of the Competitiveness Review

“The Competitive Advantage of Nations: 25 Years After”

Christian Ketels (editor)


In 1990 Michael Porter published “The Competitive Advantage of Nations”, proposing a comprehensive framework to understand the competitiveness of locations. The book triggered a rich academic debate; up to now, Google Scholar registers more than 35,000 citations. Numerous countries, regions, and clusters have launched efforts to upgrade their competitiveness, motivated by Porter’s work.
In this special issue we aim to collect two groups of papers, reflecting on the impact that the book had on theory and practice. First, we want to explore how the thinking on competitiveness has evolved over time. In the academic community there has been an on-going debate about the nature of the competitiveness concept, and the policy implications it might have. Twenty-five years after the Competitive Advantage of Nation was published, it is time to see where we have ended up so far. Second, we want to learn from a number of specific country and region cases in which Porter’s framework provided the foundation for specific diagnostics and policy action. Practitioners have been looking at Porter’s competitiveness framework as a way to organize their economic policies. With the experience of these efforts over the last twenty-five years it is time to take stock and draw conclusions for policy practice going forward.
We are inviting a number of authors from academia and the policy community to this special issue. We also encourage submission from other authors, which will then go through the normal review process of the journal.

Submissions:

• Papers will be subject to double-blind peer review, according to author guidelines available at: http://www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/cr.htm
• Submissions to Competitiveness Review are made using ScholarOne Manuscripts: http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/comprev (please select the correct special issue from the drop-down menu)

• Submission deadline : May 15th 2015 

About the Editor:

Christian Ketels is a member of the Harvard Business School faculty where he serves as the Principal Associate of the Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness. He is the President of the TCI Network, the leading global network of practitioners in competitiveness, clusters and innovation. Together with Prof. Philippe Gugler, University of Fribourg and Chairman of the European International Business Academy (EIBA, he is the editor of the Competitiveness Review. Email: cketels@hbs.edu.

Call for papers. Special Issue of the European Journal of International Management (EJIM)

INDERSCIENCE PUBLISHERS
European Journal of International Management (EJIM)
SPECIAL ISSUE

Title

Special Issue on: “THE ROLE OF MULTINATIONAL ENTERPRISES IN LOCAL MARKET DEVELOPMENTS”

Guest Editors

• Pervez N. Ghauri, King’s College, UK 
• Byung Il Park, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, South Kore

Description

As globalization intensifies and new middle classes emerge in most markets, multinational enterprises (MNEs) have significantly increased their international business efforts. The recorded figure for 2010 revealed a more than triple increase of the worldwide foreign direct investment (FDI) activities since the year 2000, amounting to US$20.4 trillion (UNCTAD 2011). The reason for the consistent expansion in MNEs foreign operations is closely associated with the increased realization that the presence of foreign firms is beneficial for both home and host countries. One view is that MNEs possessing sophisticated knowledge often function as a conduit for local firms to acquire foreign technology and know-how. In addition, MNEs also help in the creation of employment opportunities and an increase of exports strengthening the balance-of-payments position of the local economies (Park, 2011; Park and Ghauri, 2011). Likewise, home economies of MNEs achieve market expansion and learn about foreign markets.

However, some scholars (e.g., Chang, 2004; Ziegler, 2005) have shed light on the negative aspects of MNE operations, and even argue that MNEs are one of the primary obstacles inhibiting economic growth in developing countries. The explanations given by these scholars, proposing negative impacts are the following; often MNE activities are too vitalized and excessive, foreign firms attempt to dominate the market they enter and present a challenge to national sovereignty. Moreover, the aggravation of local competition against MNEs inevitably culls locally grown enterprises, which results in the deterioration of employment. In particular, MNEs re-invest only a fraction of their revenues in local economies and drain positive effects from both capital injections and the balance of payments. This leads to serious reductions in foreign exchange reserves, forces local governments to borrow more foreign debt and pushes the local economy into a vicious economic circle. These negative effects cause hardship for local governments and negatively influence their investments in infrastructure, education and technology development. In this vein, they suggest that MNE operations are not much different from the establishment of colonies.

A key problem is that it is perhaps hard to say that an unlimited open-door toward MNEs and limitless competition based on market principles is the only correct answer for economic growth. In other words, we cannot merely overlook the adverse aspects of MNEs, and need to practically assess the value of foreign investment. There is a general consensus that the fundamental goals and aims of MNEs are to pursue corporate profits and increase organizational competitiveness in overseas markets, and thus such gloomy opinions about MNEs are unavoidable to some extent. In this vein, it is time to think about the ways to lessen the skeptical attitudes of FDI by identifying the role of MNEs in local market developments. We also suggest that the negative impression of FDI might be significantly reduced if MNEs engage in actions that go beyond their direct economic and financial interests, involve themselves in activities that are not required by the law but further social good and use their internal resources in ways to benefit local markets through committed participation as members of society.

Taken together, the objective of this special issue is to bring both theoretical and empirical advancements examining the role of MNEs in developing local markets in various areas (e.g., economic, social, institutional and ethical developments).

Subject coverage

We seek both theoretical and empirical papers that may address, but are not limited to, the following list of potential research questions:

• How does FDI function as a vehicle to enhance economic development in local markets? Does FDI from MNEs based in advanced economies trigger economic growth in developing countries in the long term?
• Who obtains more benefits from inward FDI between advanced and developing countries? Are there avenues for MNEs based in advanced economies to help developing countries to promote economic growth?
• Are there any different patterns of economic development through FDI between advanced and developing countries? What implications can be drawn from countries that have successfully leapfrogged into better economic status?
• What are the key factors promoting the positive spillover effects of FDI in developing economies?
• In the perspective of developing countries, what are the primary conditions that inhibit the negative economic outcomes from inward FDI?
• How does FDI contribute to social evolution, particularly in emerging and developing countries?
• What is the effect of profit remittance by MNEs in the local market economy? What encourages MNEs to re-invest profits in local markets?
• What motivates corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices in foreign markets? Is there any particular relationship between the level of foreign CSR and economic development in emerging and developing countries?
• What facilitates knowledge transfer from advanced to developing economies through FDI?
• Is there a correlation between FDI types (e.g., ‘vertical versus horizontal’ or ‘export-driven versus market-seeking’) and economic contributions in emerging and developing countries?

References

Chang, H-J. (2004), Globalization, economic development and the role of the State, London, NY: Zed Books.

Park, B. I. (2011), “Knowledge transfer of multinational enterprises and technology acquisition in international joint ventures”, International Business Review, Vol. 20, pp. 75-87.

Park, B. I. and Ghauri, P. N. (2011), “Key factors affecting acquisition of technological capabilities from foreign acquiring firms by small and medium sized local firms”, Journal of World Business, Vol. 46, pp. 116-125.

UNCTAD (2011). World investment report: Non-equity modes of international production and development. Geneva: United Nations.

Ziegler, J. (2005), L'empire de la honte, Paris: Fayard.

Notes for Prospective Authors

Submitted papers should not have been previously published nor be currently under consideration for publication elsewhere.
All papers are refereed through a peer review process. A guide for authors, sample copies and other relevant information for submitting papers are available on the Author Guidelines page.

Deadlines for submission

• Submission of Manuscripts: April 30, 2015
• Notification to Authors: July 1, 2015
• Final Versions Due: December 1, 2015
• The issue is published: May 2016

Editors and Notes

All papers must be submitted online. To submit a paper, please go to Online Submissions of Papers. If you experience any problems submitting your paper online, please contactsubmissions@inderscience.com, describing the exact problem you experience. (Please include in your email the title of the Special Issue, the title of the Journal and the names of the Guest Editors).

Guest Editor(s) contact details:

Dr. Pervez N. Ghauri
King’s College London, Department of Management, 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH, UK
Tel: 00-44-(0)20-7848-4122, Email: pervez.ghauri@kcl.ac.uk



Dr. Byung Il Park
Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, College of Business Administration, 270, Imun-dong, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, 130-791, South Korea
Tel: 00-82-(0)10-4157-3532, Email: leedspark@hufs.ac.kr

Call for conference papers: From Local Voids to Local Goods: Can Institutions Promote Competitive Advantage?

STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT SOCIETY SPECIAL CONFERENCE

From Local Voids to Local Goods: Can Institutions Promote Competitive Advantage?

Santiago, Chile
March 19-21, 2015

We hope this e-mail finds you well. We are organizing the forthcoming special conference of the Strategic Management Society in Santiago, Chile, on March 19-21, 2015. We would like to call your attention to the conference and ask you to consider submitting your work. Please feel free to share this message with your colleagues and students.

The overall theme of the conference is “From Local Voids to Local Goods: Can Institutions Promote Competitive Advantage?” We seek to cover many issues related to how domestic firms, multinationals, business associations and governments interact to create sustainable advantage. Tarun Khanna will be a key note speaker talking about “Institutions and Strategy in Emerging Markets.” We will also have panels stimulating discussions on the foundations of strategy. For instance, Jay Barney and Margaret Peteraf will share their thoughts on the evolution and future directions of the Resource-Based View.

Other speakers include Joan Enric Ricart, Stephen Tallman, and Margarethe Wiersema, as well as distinguished academics participating in panels focused on a broad range of topics, includingJay Anand, Sharon Alvarez, Sandro Cabral, Betrand Quelin, Maria Tereza Fleury, Peter Klein, Gerry McDermott, Felipe Monteiro, Aldo Musacchio, Roberto Vassolo and Carmen Weigelt. In addition, on March 19 we will have a doctoral consortium organized by Ronaldo Parente, Christian Felzensztein and Sergio Olavarrieta.

More details of the conference can be found in the website http://santiago.strategicmanagement.net/featured_speakers.php. We are accepting submissions (7-page proposals) for Paper, Common Ground and Panel sessions. The deadline for submissions is October 15, 2014.

We are looking forward to seeing you in Santiago!

Sincerely,

Jorge Tarzijan
Luiz Mesquita
Sergio Lazzarini

Call for papers: Special Issue on te Role of multinational enterprises in local market developments

European Journal of International Management (EJIM)

Special Issue on: “THE ROLE OF MULTINATIONAL ENTERPRISES IN LOCAL MARKET DEVELOPMENTS”

Guest Editors

• Pervez N. Ghauri, King’s College, UK 
• 
  
• Byung Il Park, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, South Korea

Description

As globalization intensifies and new middle classes emerge in most markets, multinational enterprises (MNEs) have significantly increased their international business efforts. The recorded figure for 2010 revealed a more than triple increase of the worldwide foreign direct investment (FDI) activities since the year 2000, amounting to US$20.4 trillion (UNCTAD 2011). The reason for the consistent expansion in MNEs foreign operations is closely associated with the increased realization that the presence of foreign firms is beneficial for both home and host countries. One view is that MNEs possessing sophisticated knowledge often function as a conduit for local firms to acquire foreign technology and know-how. In addition, MNEs also help in the creation of employment opportunities and an increase of exports strengthening the balance-of-payments position of the local economies (Park, 2011; Park and Ghauri, 2011). Likewise, home economies of MNEs achieve market expansion and learn about foreign markets.

However, some scholars (e.g., Chang, 2004; Ziegler, 2005) have shed light on the negative aspects of MNE operations, and even argue that MNEs are one of the primary obstacles inhibiting economic growth in developing countries. The explanations given by these scholars, proposing negative impacts are the following; often MNE activities are too vitalized and excessive, foreign firms attempt to dominate the market they enter and present a challenge to national sovereignty. Moreover, the aggravation of local competition against MNEs inevitably culls locally grown enterprises, which results in the deterioration of employment. In particular, MNEs re-invest only a fraction of their revenues in local economies and drain positive effects from both capital injections and the balance of payments. This leads to serious reductions in foreign exchange reserves, forces local governments to borrow more foreign debt and pushes the local economy into a vicious economic circle. These negative effects cause hardship for local governments and negatively influence their investments in infrastructure, education and technology development. In this vein, they suggest that MNE operations are not much different from the establishment of colonies.

A key problem is that it is perhaps hard to say that an unlimited open-door toward MNEs and limitless competition based on market principles is the only correct answer for economic growth. In other words, we cannot merely overlook the adverse aspects of MNEs, and need to practically assess the value of foreign investment. There is a general consensus that the fundamental goals and aims of MNEs are to pursue corporate profits and increase organizational competitiveness in overseas markets, and thus such gloomy opinions about MNEs are unavoidable to some extent. In this vein, it is time to think about the ways to lessen the skeptical attitudes of FDI by identifying the role of MNEs in local market developments. We also suggest that the negative impression of FDI might be significantly reduced if MNEs engage in actions that go beyond their direct economic and financial interests, involve themselves in activities that are not required by the law but further social good and use their internal resources in ways to benefit local markets through committed participation as members of society.

Taken together, the objective of this special issue is to bring both theoretical and empirical advancements examining the role of MNEs in developing local markets in various areas (e.g., economic, social, institutional and ethical developments).

Subject coverage

We seek both theoretical and empirical papers that may address, but are not limited to, the following list of potential research questions:

• How does FDI function as a vehicle to enhance economic development in local markets? Does FDI from MNEs based in advanced economies trigger economic growth in developing countries in the long term?
• Who obtains more benefits from inward FDI between advanced and developing countries? Are there avenues for MNEs based in advanced economies to help developing countries to promote economic growth?
• Are there any different patterns of economic development through FDI between advanced and developing countries? What implications can be drawn from countries that have successfully leapfrogged into better economic status?
• What are the key factors promoting the positive spillover effects of FDI in developing economies?
• In the perspective of developing countries, what are the primary conditions that inhibit the negative economic outcomes from inward FDI?
• How does FDI contribute to social evolution, particularly in emerging and developing countries?
• What is the effect of profit remittance by MNEs in the local market economy? What encourages MNEs to re-invest profits in local markets?
• What motivates corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices in foreign markets? Is there any particular relationship between the level of foreign CSR and economic development in emerging and developing countries?
• What facilitates knowledge transfer from advanced to developing economies through FDI?
• Is there a correlation between FDI types (e.g., ‘vertical versus horizontal’ or ‘export-driven versus market-seeking’) and economic contributions in emerging and developing countries?

References

• Chang, H-J. (2004), Globalization, economic development and the role of the State, London, NY: Zed Books.
• Park, B. I. (2011), “Knowledge transfer of multinational enterprises and technology acquisition in international joint ventures”, International Business Review, Vol. 20, pp. 75-87.
• Park, B. I. and Ghauri, P. N. (2011), “Key factors affecting acquisition of technological capabilities from foreign acquiring firms by small and medium sized local firms”, Journal of World Business, Vol. 46, pp. 116-125.
• UNCTAD (2011). World investment report: Non-equity modes of international production and development. Geneva: United Nations.
• 
  
• Zilgler, J. (2005), L'empire de la honte, Paris: Fayard.

Notes for Prospective Authors

Submitted papers should not have been previously published nor be currently under consideration for publication elsewhere.
All papers are refereed through a peer review process. A guide for authors, sample copies and other relevant information for submitting papers are available on the Author Guidelines page.

Deadlines for submission

• Submission of Manuscripts: January 15, 2015
• Notification to Authors: April 1, 2015
• Final Versions Due: December 1, 2015
• The issue is published: May 2016

Editors and Notes

All papers must be submitted online. To submit a paper, please go to Online Submissions of Papers. If you experience any problems submitting your paper online, please contactsubmissions@inderscience.com, describing the exact problem you experience. (Please include in your email the title of the Special Issue, the title of the Journal and the names of the Guest Editors).

Guest Editor(s) contact details:

Dr. Pervez N. Ghauri

King’s College London, Department of Management, 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH, UK
Tel:
00-44-(0)20-7848-4122, Email: pervez.ghauri@kcl.ac.uk



Dr. Byung Il Park
Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, College of Business Administration, 270, Imun-dong, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, 130-791, South Korea
Tel:
00-82-(0)10-4157-3532, Email: leedspark@hufs.ac.kr

Call for papers. Special Issue: European Journal of International Management (EJIM)

European Journal of International Management (EJIM)
SPECIAL ISSUE

Special Issue on: “The ROLE OF MULTINATIONAL ENTERPRISES In LOCAL MARKET DEVELOPMENTs”

Guest Editors

• Pervez N. Ghauri, King’s College, UK 
• Byung Il Park, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, South Korea

Description

As globalization intensifies and new middle classes emerge in most markets, multinational enterprises (MNEs) have significantly increased their international business efforts. The recorded figure for 2010 revealed a more than triple increase of the worldwide foreign direct investment (FDI) activities since the year 2000, amounting to US$20.4 trillion (UNCTAD 2011). The reason for the consistent expansion in MNEs foreign operations is closely associated with the increased realization that the presence of foreign firms is beneficial for both home and host countries. One view is that MNEs possessing sophisticated knowledge often function as a conduit for local firms to acquire foreign technology and know-how. In addition, MNEs also help in the creation of employment opportunities and an increase of exports strengthening the balance-of-payments position of the local economies (Park, 2011; Park and Ghauri, 2011). Likewise, home economies of MNEs achieve market expansion and learn about foreign markets.

However, some scholars (e.g., Chang, 2004; Ziegler, 2005) have shed light on the negative aspects of MNE operations, and even argue that MNEs are one of the primary obstacles inhibiting economic growth in developing countries. The explanations given by these scholars, proposing negative impacts are the following; often MNE activities are too vitalized and excessive, foreign firms attempt to dominate the market they enter and present a challenge to national sovereignty. Moreover, the aggravation of local competition against MNEs inevitably culls locally grown enterprises, which results in the deterioration of employment. In particular, MNEs re-invest only a fraction of their revenues in local economies and drain positive effects from both capital injections and the balance of payments. This leads to serious reductions in foreign exchange reserves, forces local governments to borrow more foreign debt and pushes the local economy into a vicious economic circle. These negative effects cause hardship for local governments and negatively influence their investments in infrastructure, education and technology development. In this vein, they suggest that MNE operations are not much different from the establishment of colonies.

A key problem is that it is perhaps hard to say that an unlimited open-door toward MNEs and limitless competition based on market principles is the only correct answer for economic growth. In other words, we cannot merely overlook the adverse aspects of MNEs, and need to practically assess the value of foreign investment. There is a general consensus that the fundamental goals and aims of MNEs are to pursue corporate profits and increase organizational competitiveness in overseas markets, and thus such gloomy opinions about MNEs are unavoidable to some extent. In this vein, it is time to think about the ways to lessen the skeptical attitudes of FDI by identifying the role of MNEs in local market developments. We also suggest that the negative impression of FDI might be significantly reduced if MNEs engage in actions that go beyond their direct economic and financial interests, involve themselves in activities that are not required by the law but further social good and use their internal resources in ways to benefit local markets through committed participation as members of society.

Taken together, the objective of this special issue is to bring both theoretical and empirical advancements examining the role of MNEs in developing local markets in various areas (e.g., economic, social, institutional and ethical developments).

Subject coverage

We seek both theoretical and empirical papers that may address, but are not limited to, the following list of potential research questions:

• How does FDI function as a vehicle to enhance economic development in local markets? Does FDI from MNEs based in advanced economies trigger economic growth in developing countries in the long term? 
• Who obtains more benefits from inward FDI between advanced and developing countries? Are there avenues for MNEs based in advanced economies to help developing countries to promote economic growth? 
• Are there any different patterns of economic development through FDI between advanced and developing countries? What implications can be drawn from countries that have successfully leapfrogged into better economic status? 
• What are the key factors promoting the positive spillover effects of FDI in developing economies? 
• In the perspective of developing countries, what are the primary conditions that inhibit the negative economic outcomes from inward FDI? 
• How does FDI contribute to social evolution, particularly in emerging and developing countries? 
• What is the effect of profit remittance by MNEs in the local market economy? What encourages MNEs to re-invest profits in local markets? 
• What motivates corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices in foreign markets? Is there any particular relationship between the level of foreign CSR and economic development in emerging and developing countries? 
• What facilitates knowledge transfer from advanced to developing economies through FDI? 
• Is there a correlation between FDI types (e.g., ‘vertical versus horizontal’ or ‘export-driven versus market-seeking’) and economic contributions in emerging and developing countries? 

References

Chang, H-J. (2004), Globalization, economic development and the role of the State, London, NY: Zed Books.

Park, B. I. (2011), “Knowledge transfer of multinational enterprises and technology acquisition in international joint ventures”, International Business Review, Vol. 20, pp. 75-87.

Park, B. I. and Ghauri, P. N. (2011), “Key factors affecting acquisition of technological capabilities from foreign acquiring firms by small and medium sized local firms”, Journal of World Business, Vol. 46, pp. 116-125.

UNCTAD (2011). World investment report: Non-equity modes of international production and development. Geneva: United Nations.

Ziegler, J. (2005), L'empire de la honte, Paris: Fayard.

Notes for Prospective Authors

Submitted papers should not have been previously published nor be currently under consideration for publication elsewhere.

All papers are refereed through a peer review process. A guide for authors, sample copies and other relevant information for submitting papers are available on the Author Guidelines page.

Deadlines for submission

• Submission of Manuscripts: January 15, 2015
• Notification to Authors: April 1, 2015
• Final Versions Due: December 1, 2015
• The issue is published: May 2016

Editors and Notes



All papers must be submitted online. To submit a paper, please go to Online Submissions of Papers. If you experience any problems submitting your paper online, please contact submissions@inderscience.com, describing the exact problem you experience. (Please include in your email the title of the Special Issue, the title of the Journal and the names of the Guest Editors).

Guest Editor(s) contact details:

• Dr. Pervez N. Ghauri

King’s College London, Department of Management, 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH, UK
Tel: 00-44-(0)20-7848-4122, Email: pervez.ghauri@kcl.ac.uk

• Dr. Byung Il Park

Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, College of Business Administration, 270, Imun-dong, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, 130-791, South Korea
Tel: 00-82-(0)10-4157-3532, Email: leedspark@hufs.ac.kr