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Journal of International Entrepreneurship

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01-09-2013

Where Angels Fear to Tread: Internationalization of Emerging Country SMEs

Authors: Sonia Ketkar, Zoltan J. Acs

Published in: Journal of International Entrepreneurship | Issue 3/2013

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Abstract

Based on institutional theory and risk perspectives, this study examines how the entrepreneurial orientation of firms as determined by national cultural factors is related to the internationalization of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from emerging and developing countries. We also suggest that institutional improvements can have a moderating effect on the relationship between culture and internationalization. We develop a unique measure of internationalization and test it on a sample of 7,212 SMEs from 36 developing countries using a multilevel linear hierarchical model that allows us to examine both firm- and country-level effects. We find that developed institutions support the internationalization of SMEs from more masculine and individualistic cultures.

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We thank an anonymous reviewer for pointing this out.

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Title: Where Angels Fear to Tread: Internationalization of Emerging Country SMEs
Authors: Sonia Ketkar
Zoltan J. Acs
Publication date: 01-09-2013
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Journal of International Entrepreneurship / Issue 3/2013
Print ISSN: 1570-7385
Electronic ISSN: 1573-7349
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10843-013-0107-z

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