The Internationalisation Strategies of Small-Country Firms: The Australian Experience of Globalisation (New Horizons in International Business Series)

The international business literature often struggles to depict a universal experience of internationalisation from the perspective of large countries. This book seeks to enrich the literature by providing a nuanced overview of the little-known Australian experience, being an atypical case of a small- to medium-sized economy that liberalised rapidly from the 1980s outside any trading bloc. Six data-rich survey chapters explore Australia's mixed success in founding its own multinationals. The experience of Australian firms is set in historical and comparative perspective, including interactions with inward and also American FDI. Five industry studies next consider why firms in retail, wine and professional services were more successful than in financial services and shipping. Nine detailed case studies of firms then identify the elements of administrative heritage, strategy and learning that have been the key to success or failure. The book concludes by invaluably outlining what can be learned from Australia's example, and presenting implications for future research. "The Internationalisation Strategies of Small-Country Firms" will appeal to scholars, researchers and postgraduate students in international business and international economics.