Political events and the foreign direct investment decision: An empirical examination

This study investigates the impact of political events on US manufacturing direct investment in Latin America. The relationship between foreign direct investment and political events (and economic factors) is examined through regression analysis of pooled time-series (21 years) and cross-sectional (8 countries) data. In contrast to previous studies using an econometric approach, this study finds that political events do affect direct investment decisions. Specifically, both intra-nation and inter-nation conflict and co-operation have an impact on US direct investment decisions concerning Latin American countries. In addition, the host country's market size and market growth affect these decisions by US multinational firms.     

International air passenger services: The determinants of bata negotiation outcomes

International air passenger services, like services in general, have played an increasingly important role in international commerce. No such services would take place, however, without bilateral air transport agreements (BATAs). This study examines the determinants of the outcomes of the BATA negotiation process. It focuses on United States flags hare, a key outcome. Using regression analysis, this study finds that the importance of the other country's airline to that country's government has a significant negative effect on U.S. flagshare. The importance of tourism to the economy of the other country has a significant positive effect on U.S. flagshare, as does the size of the market between the United States and the other country. In contrast, this study finds no support for the relevance of U.S. citizen share or U.S. military basing privileges in the other country.     

The effect of political events on Japanese foreign direct investments

This article presents the findings of an investigation of the impact of conflictive and cooperative political events in 62 host countries on Japanese foreign direct investments during the period 1965 to 1980. In addition, the study provides evidence of the relative importance of economic conditions and intergovernmental relationships as determinants of foreign direct investments by Japanese firms. It is argued that in analyzing the effect of political events on foreign direct investments, one must not only take into account the conflictive political conditions within the host countries, but also cooperative political developments and changes in intergovernmental relationships. The findings of this study are compared with the results of investigating the impact of political events on foreign direct investments by United States and German multinational firms. Similarities and differences are highlighted as well as their probable causes. As such, this study makes a contribution to the conceptualization of political risk in an international business context.Dr. Hans Schollhammer is Associate Professor and Chairman of the International Management Program, Graduate School of Management, UCLA; Dr. Douglas Nigh is Assistant Professor of International Business, Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania. The authors acknowledge with gratitude the financial support provided by the United States-Japan Friendship Commission for this research project.     

The impact of U.S. company internationalization on top management team advice networks: a tacit knowledge perspective

This study surveys 37 U.S. multinational corporations (MNCs) to examine the effect of internationalization on one dimension of the top management team’s (TMT’s) character: international business advice network density. This study draws on international business (IB) theory, the resource‐based view of the firm, and philosophy of science and its view of tacit knowledge. Results show that both the firm’s internationalization extent, and the interdependence that exists across its country–market activities, are positively related to the TMT’s IB advice network density. As the extent of the MNC’s business outside the United States grows and the linkages among its IB units intensify, the demand for IB expertise within the TMT increases, TMT members share each other’s knowledge of IB more extensively and the TMT’s IB advice network density increases. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Foreign direct investment,political conflict and co-operation: The asymmetric response hypothesis

Previous empirical research has demonstrated that political factors do affect the foreign direct investment decisions of multinational enterprises. This study explores the nature of this relationship in more depth. Specifically, it examines the extent to which investors response to political conflict and co-operation is asymmetric, i.e. investors respond differently depending on whether the political conflict or cooperation is increasing or decreasing. The asymmetric response hypothesis is tested through regression analysis of pooled time-series (13 years) and cross-sectional (62 countries) data on Japanese investors. The study finds evidence of asymmetry for intra-nation conflict and co-operation but not for inter-nation conflict and co-operation.