
Theories of the Multinational Firm
A Multidimensional Creature in the Global Economy, Fourth Edition
Mats Forsgren(Author)
Edward Elgar Publishing
4th Edition
Published on 14. May 2024
Book
Hardback
220 pages
978-1-0353-3594-7 (ISBN)
Description
Internationally useful at undergraduate and postgraduate level, the fourth edition of this highly successful textbook analyzes and compares six different theories of the multinational firm, called the Dominating, the Coordinating, the Knowing, the Designing, the Networking and the Politizing multinational. These theories reflect the dominating perspectives of research on the multinational firm in the global economy over the last five decades.
This thoroughly revised fourth edition contains updates which reflect current developments, including:
Revised section positioning the multinational firm within the world economy, including more recent data about foreign direct investments and multinational firms
Updated focus on the dynamic capability theory as an aspect of the knowing multinational firm
Enhanced in-depth discussions on international entrepreneurship and on the relationship between corporate culture and common identity
Analyses of recent extended applications of internalization theory in terms of 'quasi-internalization' and the so-called new internalization theory (NIT)
Throughout, Mats Forsgren provides the essential building blocks and assumptions behind each theory covered in order to achieve a better understanding of why the multinational firm is looked upon so differently by researchers and stakeholders.
Concise and accessible, this book is an essential resource for students of international business, international management, public policy and international economy courses.
This thoroughly revised fourth edition contains updates which reflect current developments, including:
Revised section positioning the multinational firm within the world economy, including more recent data about foreign direct investments and multinational firms
Updated focus on the dynamic capability theory as an aspect of the knowing multinational firm
Enhanced in-depth discussions on international entrepreneurship and on the relationship between corporate culture and common identity
Analyses of recent extended applications of internalization theory in terms of 'quasi-internalization' and the so-called new internalization theory (NIT)
Throughout, Mats Forsgren provides the essential building blocks and assumptions behind each theory covered in order to achieve a better understanding of why the multinational firm is looked upon so differently by researchers and stakeholders.
Concise and accessible, this book is an essential resource for students of international business, international management, public policy and international economy courses.
Reviews / Votes
'This latest edition of Professor Forsgren's textbook is a must-read for both students seeking foundational understanding of international business theory and seasoned researchers craving scholarly depth. What sets this book apart is its remarkable balance: between accessibility and theoretical rigour; between precise statistics and illustrative examples; between a comprehensive scope and intellectual depth; between classic theoretical frameworks and their contemporary iterations; and, most importantly, between highlighting the "bright" and "dark" sides of the role of multinationals in today's global economy - a quest that eludes many contemporary scholars.' -- Liena Kano, University of Calgary, Canada 'This excellent book provides one of the most comprehensive treatments of the multinational firm in the global economy. It takes stock of 50 years' of research, providing fascinating insights into the changing perspectives on the multinational. It speaks to a broad audience interested in debates about this complex organization. I can warmly recommend this innovative book for both research and teaching purposes.' -- Rebecca Piekkari, Aalto University, FinlandMore details
Edition
4th edition
Language
English
Place of publication
Cheltenham
United Kingdom
Target group
College/higher education
Dimensions
Height: 216 mm
Width: 138 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-0353-3594-7 (9781035335947)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Previous edition

Mats Forsgren
Theories of the Multinational Firm
A Multidimensional Creature in the Global Economy, Third Edition
Book
06/2017
3rd Edition
Edward Elgar Publishing
€139.87
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Person
Mats Forsgren, Department of Business Studies, Uppsala University, Sweden
Content
Contents:
Preface to the fourth edition
1 The multinational firm: a beauty or a beast?
2 The Dominating multinational: a tale of market power
3 The Coordinating multinational: a tale of cost efficiency
4 The Knowing multinational: a tale of value creation
5 The Designing multinational: a tale of strategic fit
6 The Networking multinational: a tale of business relationships
7 The Politicizing multinational: a tale of legitimacy and power
8 The Multidimensional multinational: comparing the
six perspectives
9 The Governing multinational: an epilogue
Preface to the fourth edition
1 The multinational firm: a beauty or a beast?
2 The Dominating multinational: a tale of market power
3 The Coordinating multinational: a tale of cost efficiency
4 The Knowing multinational: a tale of value creation
5 The Designing multinational: a tale of strategic fit
6 The Networking multinational: a tale of business relationships
7 The Politicizing multinational: a tale of legitimacy and power
8 The Multidimensional multinational: comparing the
six perspectives
9 The Governing multinational: an epilogue