Meyer

Perspectives on Multinational Enterprises in Emerging Economies1

Klaus E. Meyer Copenhagen Business School

This version: 10. March, 2004

Please refer to the published version of this paper when citing:

Meyer, Klaus E. (2004): Perspectives on Multinational Enterprises in Emerging Economies, Journal of International Business Studies 34, no. 4, p. 259-277.

Author contact: Klaus E. Meyer, Center for East European Studies, Copenhagen Business School, Howitzvej 60, 2000 Frederiksberg, Denmark. Tel. (+45) 3815 3033, Fax. (+45) 3815 2500, km.cees@cbs.dk, http://www.cbs.dk/staff/meyer

Acknowledgements: I thank Arie Lewin for stimulating this research, and Evis Sinani for her research assistance. Moreover, the following colleagues have been providing helpful comments: Saul Estrin, Heather Hazard, Camilla Jensen, Mike Peng, participants of the JIBS conference ‘new frontiers in international business research’ at Duke University, and anonymous referees for Journal of International Business Studies.

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Perspectives on Multinational Enterprises in Emerging Economies

Abstract Multinational enterprises (MNEs) play a pivotal role in the development of many emerging economies. In consequence, they became the focus of scholarly research by economists and policy analysts. In contrast, international business scholars have been comparatively uninterested in analyzing this role of MNEs. Yet, they could make important contributions to these debates. Firstly, studies taking the individual firms as starting point would enhance understanding of the interaction between MNEs and the local environment. Secondly, theories and research methodologies developed in international business research could provide new insights into the dynamics of MNEs in emerging economies. The objective of this paper is to motivate more international business scholars to engage in research on positive and negative spillovers from foreign direct investment (FDI) in emerging economy...