Decentralization of public policies for the promotion of firms’ internationalization. A proposal.

Despite the extensive investigation regarding decentralization, the role of local governments in promoting firms’ internationalization doesn’t seem to have received adequate attention from literature, neither from the area of regional science nor from studies of international business. The present work intends to overpass this gap, establishing a bridge on the review of the literature about firms’ internationalization, decentralization and internationalization promotion policies. The study focuses on Portugal, a not very explored country from the scientific point of view, where small and medium firms represent the most part of the entrepreneurial reality and their internationalization is presented as a solution to fight the economic crisis and where decentralization is a process that still requires more deepening. Analyzing, based on direct enquiries, the involvement of Portuguese municipalities in activities promoting economic development and/or internationalization of local firms and the firms’ evaluation of these activities, the aim of this research is to rethink internationalization promotion policies on a territorial/local basis. This study will gather evidence that will allow assessing whether municipalities can also play an active role on the promotion of local enterprises on the global market.