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Investment motive as a moderator of cultural-distance and relative knowledge relationships with foreign subsidiary ownership structure

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  • Powell, K. Skylar
  • Lim, Eunah

Abstract

In this analysis, we seek to contribute to the growing body of literature exploring moderators of cross-national differences and foreign subsidiary ownership structure relationships, by developing the argument that cultural distance and majority-owned foreign subsidiary relationships will be positively moderated if a subsidiary serves a manufacturing motive, as opposed to a market-seeking motive. Additionally, we argue that relationships between increasingly greater levels of host country technical knowledge, relative to a firm's home country, and the use of majority-owned foreign subsidiary structures will be negatively moderated by manufacturing motives. These ideas are tested, and supported, in the empirical context of subsidiaries of Japanese automotive firms from 1993 through 2009.

Suggested Citation

  • Powell, K. Skylar & Lim, Eunah, 2017. "Investment motive as a moderator of cultural-distance and relative knowledge relationships with foreign subsidiary ownership structure," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 255-262.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbrese:v:70:y:2017:i:c:p:255-262
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2016.08.013
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    8. Powell, K. Skylar & Lim, Eunah, 2018. "‘Misfits’ DO try to fit: Deviations from firm-specific optimal multinationality and subsequent market entry or exit in US law firms," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 141-148.

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