Who Goes Where and How? Firm Heterogeneity and Location Decision of Korean Multinationals

This paper examines the role of firm heterogeneity in multinationals' choice of FDI type and location. Using Korean firm-level data, we find that more productive firms are more likely than their less efficient counterparts to invest in tough markets and choose horizontal FDI against vertical or export-platform FDI across different host countries. These findings, consistent with the recent theories in international economics, suggest that firm heterogeneity may play a significant role in FDI strategy as well as location decision