Export barriers as liabilities: near perfect substitutes

Purpose This study aims to use analogical reasoning to draw a conceptual link between liabilities in International Business (IB) and export barriers. Design/methodology/approach Following a review of 130 articles on export barriers, the study develops and applies a “liabilities” metonymy to connect the source construct (liabilities in the IB) and target subject (export barriers). Findings Liabilities in the IB map to export barriers, and the concepts of liability of foreignness, liability of outsidership, liability of newness and liability of smallness can substitute export barriers. Practical implications Adoption of metonymy creates new opportunities for enhancing theory development while offering alternative perspectives regarding coping mechanisms for overcoming export barriers. Originality/value This, to the author’s best knowledge, is the first study in the IB to theorize based on metonymy.