International strategy of emerging market firms

Track chair:

 

Andrei Panibratov, Professor, GSOM    E-mail: panibratov@gsom.pu.ru

 

The international expansion of emerging market firms (EMFs) has come progressively into focus of academic research during the last several years. Although firms from emerging markets already began their international operations in the early 1980s, the significant increase in the scale and scope of expansion only took place in the beginning of the 2000s. One of the most interesting and distinctive features of this phenomenon are the strategies adopted by EMFs that have allowed them to enter successfully the international business arena and to establish their strong presence. These strategies are characterized by a large diversity and are often described as being highly aggressive and rapid that differs from the expansion approach of developed countries’ firms. Due to these features the strategic behavior of EMFs has an increased attention from academic scholars who explain theoretically and understand the underlying reasons behind this phenomenon. The conclusions about both the uniqueness and the determinants of strategic approaches adopted for international expansion by EMFs are mixed when some scholars argue for the need of new theoretical explanations, while others suggest applying the existing theories with some modifications in concepts and causal relationships.

The internationalization of firms from BRIC and East-European countries, as well as from other regions such as Latin America, South Asia, or CIS countries is redefining the global competitive landscape, and investments originating from these regions can become a bridge to advanced markets.

The track will encompass all the above themes and invites scholars to submit proposals in these promising research areas.