Region effects in the internationalization–performance relationship in Chinese firms

This paper examines the relationship between internationalization and performance in Chinese MNEs using panel data on 887 publicly listed Chinese firms over the nine-year period. A second aim of this paper was to test for the effects of the geographic regions where Chinese firms internationalize on their performance. The results show that the internationalization–performance relationship varies significantly depending on whether internationalization takes place within the Greater China region, within Asia or outside Asia. Internationalization within the Greater China region had the greatest benefit, the effect remaining positive and significant even after taking into account reverse causality effects.