A retrospective and agenda for future research on Chinese outward foreign direct investment

Peter J. Buckley, L. Jeremy Clegg, Hinrich Voss*, Adam R. Cross, Xin Liu, Ping Zheng

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

215 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Our original 2007 Journal of International Business Studies article, "The determinants of Chinese Outward Foreign Direct Investment", was the first theoretically based empirical analysis of the phenomenon. It utilised internalisation theory to explain the internationalisation of Chinese stateowned enterprises. This paper showed that we had failed to ask sufficiently challenging questions about the effects of home country institutions on outward foreign direct investment (OFDI). This Retrospective builds on the extensive subsequent research to show the importance of context in constructing satisfactory theoretical explanations of OFDI. Building on these foundations, we propose research challenges for the next decade on Chinese OFDI that transcend the Chinese context and have wider theoretical applicability. Examining alternative forms of social and economic organisation allows the creation of special theories of foreign direct investment nested within the general theory. Following such a strategy would enable International Business research to make a contribution across the social sciences.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)4-23
Number of pages20
JournalJournal of International Business Studies
Volume49
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2018

Keywords

  • Chinese outward FDI
  • Decade award
  • International business policy
  • State-owned enterprises

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