Handbook on Small Nations in the Global Economy: The Contribution of Multinational Enterprises to National Economic Success(Research Handbooks in Business and Management series)

This unique, extensive Handbook illustrates that multinational enterprises can contribute substantially to the competitive advantage of small countries. It advances the notion that small nations increasingly need to rely on both home-grown and foreign multinational enterprises to achieve domestic economic success in industries characterized by international competition.The expert contributors explore the roles of firms in a range of small, successful open economies driven by such multinational enterprises across the globe. They juxtapose country data sets against Professor Michael Porter's paradigm of single diamond components and show that these single diamond components reflect merely a set of initial conditions, which can be improved upon through both inward and outward direct investment. Concluding that multinational enterprises create resource linkages between the home and host environments in which they operate, this Handbook proves to be a fascinating read for academics, students and researchers with an interest in business and management, economics and international economics.

Table of Contents:
Contents: 1. Small Nations in the Global Economy: An Overview Daniel Van Den Bulcke, Alain Verbeke and Wenlong Yuan 2. Globalization in the Netherlands Annelies Hogenbirk, John Hagedoorn and Hans van Kranenburg 3. Belgium’s Competitiveness: A Comparison of Foreign and Domestic Companies Filip De Beule and Ilke Van Beveren 4. Porter’s Diamond and Small Nations in the Global Economy: Ireland as a Case Study John Cassidy, Frank Barry and Chris van Egeraat 5. Upgrading the International Competitiveness of a Transition Economy: Slovenia in the European and Global Economy Andreja Jaklic, Matija Rojec and Marjan Svetlicic 6. Multinational Enterprises from Small Economies: The Internationalization Patterns of Large Companies from Denmark, Finland and Norway Gabriel Robertstad G. Benito, Jorma Larimo, Rajneesh Narula and Torben Pedersen 7. The Competitive Advantage of Canada: A Firm-level Analysis Wenlong Yuan and Alain Verbeke 8. Chile as an Example of the Augmented Diamond Robert Grosse 9. The Development Trajectory of a Small Island Economy: The Successful Case of Mauritius Jahan Ara Peerally and John Cantwell 10. New Zealand and the Challenge of Global Competition Peter Enderwick and Joanna Scott-Kennel 11. The Competitive Position of a Developing Economy: The Role of Foreign Direct Investment in Cambodia Ludo Cuyvers, Reth Soeng and Daniel Van Den Bulcke Index

About the Author :
Edited by Daniel Van Den Bulcke, formerly University of Antwerp, Belgium, Alain Verbeke, McCaig Chaired Professor in Management, Haskayne School of Business, University of Calgary, Canada, Associate Fellow, Centre for International Business and Management, Judge Business School, University of Cambridge, UK and Solvay Business School, University of Brussels (VUB), Belgium and Wenlong Yuan, Associate Professor, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada

Review :
'These studies of the international competitiveness of small open economies demonstrate the critical importance of foreign direct investment as an engine of economic development: multinational enterprises are the key drivers of international competitiveness.' - Alan Rugman, University of Reading, UK and former President of the Academy of International Business 'Globalization has made every country smallA". The global economic crisis has made sure that every country has increasingly realised that it is openA" and vulnerableA" as well. This volume is both timely and relevant. Small country studies should become mainstream for scholars in business, economics and politics!' - Rob van Tulder, RSM Erasmus University, the Netherlands 'This book provides a fresh and clear-eyed view of the relationship between multinationals and location advantages of countries. It is one of the first attempts to build a constructive bridge between the theory of international business and the outstanding contribution of Michael Porter about the drivers of competitiveness. The authors address crucial issues demanding the attention of teachers, researchers, practitioners and political leaders.' - Philippe Gugler, University of Fribourg, Switzerland