Overcoming Resource Constraints Through Internationalization? An Empirical Analysis of European SMEs

Babson College Entrepreneurship Research Conference (BCERC) 2008

Frontiers of Entrepreneurship Research 2008

12 Pages Posted: 5 Mar 2009

See all articles by Jolanda Hessels

Jolanda Hessels

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) - Erasmus School of Economics (ESE)

Abstract

Previous research has indicated that firms can use internationalization as a strategy to access or build up resources. Such a strategy may be of particular interest or even necessary for firms that lack specific resources. Based on resource dependency theory and the model for entrepreneurial internationalization this paper explores whether resource scarcities in terms of labor, finance and technology provide an incentive for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to aim to access or accumulate lacking resources through internationalization. A number of hypotheses are tested using firm-level data from the ENSR Enterprise Survey for 18 European countries. The results support that perceived resource deficiencies increase the probability for SMEs to use internationalization as a means for accessing or accumulating lacking resources.

Keywords: Entrepreneurship

JEL Classification: M13

Suggested Citation

Hessels, Jolanda, Overcoming Resource Constraints Through Internationalization? An Empirical Analysis of European SMEs. Babson College Entrepreneurship Research Conference (BCERC) 2008, Frontiers of Entrepreneurship Research 2008, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1348183

Jolanda Hessels (Contact Author)

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) - Erasmus School of Economics (ESE) ( email )

P.O. Box 1738
3000 DR Rotterdam, NL 3062 PA
Netherlands

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