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Stephen Hymer's contribution to international business scholarship: an assessment and extension

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Abstract

We assess Stephen Hymer's contribution to the theory of the multinational enterprise and to international business (IB) scholarship. We focus on Hymer's evolving analytical framework, and assess it in terms of its internal consistency and in the light of the shifting global landscape and scholarly thinking. We also extend Hymer's framework, revisit his predictions, and conclude by questioning his canonical status within the IB profession.

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Acknowledgements

An earlier version of this paper was presented at the 2003 European International Business Association (EIBA) conference in Copenhagen. Some of the ideas were also presented at the AIB meeting in Stockholm in July 2004. We are grateful to participants for their comments and discussion, especially Alan Rugman. The comments of Neil Kay, Roger Sugden, four anonymous referees of EIBA and AIB and four anonymous referees of this journal and the comments of Senior Editor Lorraine Eden are gratefully acknowledged. All errors are ours.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Reading, UK

    John H Dunning

  2. Rutgers University, USA

    John H Dunning

  3. Centre for International Business and Management (CIBAM), Judge Business School, University of Cambridge, UK

    Christos N Pitelis

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  1. John H Dunning
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  2. Christos N Pitelis
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Correspondence to John H Dunning.

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Accepted by Arie Y Lewin, Editor-in-Chief, 24 June 2007. This paper has been with the authors for two revisions.

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Dunning, J., Pitelis, C. Stephen Hymer's contribution to international business scholarship: an assessment and extension. J Int Bus Stud 39, 167–176 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1057/palgrave.jibs.8400328

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/palgrave.jibs.8400328

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