Ownership structure and internationalization of Indian firms

Abstract

This paper examines the relationship between ownership structure and the firm internationalization, in a longitudinal sample of Indian firms. Drawing from principal-principal (PP) agency theory and the resource-based view (RBV) of the firm, we argue that divergent motivations among the firm’s owners affect the firm’s inclination to pursue internationalization, while resource heterogeneity among the firm’s owners affects the firm’s capability to pursue internationalization. Since both motivation and capability are required for a firm to pursue any strategic initiative, we argue that differences in ownership, which influences both the motivation and the capability of firms, impact firm’s internationalization strategies in different ways. In addition, through examining two modes of internationalization, i.e., outward foreign direct investment (FDI) and exports from a prominent emerging economy, we uncover an interesting dichotomy. While family and other domestic owners favor exports (and not FDI), foreign owners favor both exports and FDI. Further, we find that family owners have a dominant influence on internationalization and their preferences appear to supersede those of the other owners.