The economic theory of the firm as a foundation for international business theory

Purpose – This paper aims to argue that management capability is a complement to ownership advantage. Ownership advantage determines the potential of the firm, and management capability governs the fulfilment of this potential through overcoming barriers to growth. The economic theory of the firm is central to the theory of the multinational enterprise (MNE). Design/methodology/approach – Multinationals play an important role in coordinating the international division of labour through internal markets. The paper reviews the economic principles that underlie this view. The analysis is applied to a variety of issues, including out-sourcing, geographical dispersion of production and regional specialisation in marketing. Findings – The economic theory of the firm is central to the theory of the MNE. Recent literature on multinationals, however, makes only limited reference to the economic theory of the firm. Optimal internalisation equates marginal benefits and costs. The benefits of internalisation stem mainly from the difficulties of licensing proprietary knowledge, reflecting the view that MNEs possess an “ownership” or “firm-specific” advantage. The costs of internalisation, it is argued, reflect managerial capability, and in particular the capability to manage a large firm. Originality/value – The paper demonstrates the value of the economic theory of the firm in analysing the strategy, structure and size of multinational firms. It restates classic economic principles and applies them to contemporary issues, including the performance and survival of multinational firms in current times.