1. Uppsala internationalization model:
- The Uppsala internationalization model is based on the idea that firms gradually increase their international involvement through a process of experiential learning and incremental commitment. The key principles underlying this model include:
- Psychic distance: Firms are more likely to enter markets that are culturally and geographically closer to their home country due to lower perceived risks and uncertainties.
- Incremental commitment: Firms start with small, low-risk international activities and gradually increase their commitment as they gain experience and knowledge about foreign markets.
- Market knowledge: Firms need to acquire market-specific knowledge through direct experience in order to successfully internationalize.
2. Transaction cost analysis:
- Transaction cost analysis is based on the idea that firms make decisions about whether to conduct transactions internally or externally based on the costs associated with each option. The key concepts underlying this model include:
- Transaction costs: The costs associated with conducting transactions, such as search costs, negotiation costs, and monitoring costs.
- Governance mechanisms: Firms can choose between different governance mechanisms, such as hierarchical control, market transactions, or relational contracts, based on the transaction costs involved.
- Asset specificity: The degree to which assets are specific to a particular transaction, which affects the costs and risks associated with conducting that transaction.
3. Life cycle model of international trade:
- The life cycle model of international trade suggests that a country's pattern of trade evolves over time as it moves through different stages of economic development. The key principles underlying this model include:
- Product life cycle: Products go through different stages of development, from introduction to maturity, and countries may specialize in different stages of production based on their comparative advantages.
- Comparative advantage: Countries specialize in producing goods and services in which they have a comparative advantage, based on factors such as natural resources, technology, and labor skills.
- Trade patterns: As countries develop and their comparative advantages change, their patterns of trade also evolve, with some industries declining and others emerging.
4. Network model:
- The network model emphasizes the importance of relationships and networks in international business. The key concepts underlying this model include:
- Social capital: The value of relationships and networks in facilitating business activities, such as information sharing, trust building, and resource access.
- Network ties: The connections between firms, individuals, and institutions that enable them to exchange resources, knowledge, and opportunities.
- Network governance: The ways in which networks are structured and managed, including formal and informal rules, norms, and practices that govern interactions among network members.