The Influence of Domestic Economic Agents on the International Competitiveness of Latin American Firms: Evidence from Peruvian Small and Medium Multinational Enterprises

Abstract:

We evaluate how home-country economic agents (government, universities and research centers, and industry) affect the international competitiveness of small and medium multinational enterprises (SMNEs) of developing countries in Latin America. Drawing on a sample of 100 SMNEs of Peru, the main findings reveal that for Peruvian SMNEs, the government is a core economic agent. Competitiveness of SMNEs also depends on the relationships they have with companies operating in the same industry. Universities and research centers do not have a positive effect on the international competitiveness of SMNEs. The study both advances theory and offers practical advice

Key Words::

• collaboration of industrial sectors
• firm international competitiveness
• governments
• Latin America developing countries
• SMNEs
• universities/research centers

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jesús C. Peña-Vinces

Jesús C. Peña-Vinces ([email protected]), corresponding author, is an assistant professor in the College of Economics and Business at the University of Seville, Seville, Spain. David Urbano ([email protected]) is an associate professor in entrepreneurship in the Business Economics Department at Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. The authors acknowledge the financial support from the Projects EC02010–16760 (Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation) and 2005SGR00858 (Catalan Government Department for Universities, Research and Information Society). The authors are indebted to Ali M. Kutan, editor of Emerging Markets Finance & Trade, and the two anonymous referees who made helpful and valuable comments on earlier versions of this paper. Any errors and omissions remain the responsibility of the authors.

David Urbano

Jesús C. Peña-Vinces ([email protected]), corresponding author, is an assistant professor in the College of Economics and Business at the University of Seville, Seville, Spain. David Urbano ([email protected]) is an associate professor in entrepreneurship in the Business Economics Department at Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. The authors acknowledge the financial support from the Projects EC02010–16760 (Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation) and 2005SGR00858 (Catalan Government Department for Universities, Research and Information Society). The authors are indebted to Ali M. Kutan, editor of Emerging Markets Finance & Trade, and the two anonymous referees who made helpful and valuable comments on earlier versions of this paper. Any errors and omissions remain the responsibility of the authors.