Skip to main content

Penrose Effect, the

  • Living reference work entry
  • First Online:

Abstract

Penrose, Edith T. (1914–1996) book (1959) provides a theory of the growth of the firm, maintaining that the binding constraint on the rate of the growth of the firm arises from the limited capacities of its existing management. This managerial constraint on the rate of growth of the firm is known as the Penrose effect. The article discusses the reasons why the Penrose effect arises, reviews how this effect has been empirically examined, and suggests some future research directions.

This entry was originally published on Palgrave Connect under ISBN 978-1-137-49190-9. The content has not been changed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

References

  • Augier, M., and D.J. Teece. 2007. Dynamic capabilities and multinational enterprise: Penrosean insights and omissions. Management International Review 47: 175–192.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chandler, A.D. 1990. Scale and scope: The dynamics of industrial capitalism. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gander, J.P. 1991. Managerial intensity, firm size and growth. Managerial and Decision Economics 12: 261–266.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goerzen, A., and P.W. Beamish. 2007. The Penrose effect: ‘Excess’ expatriates in multinational enterprises. Management International Review 47: 221–239.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hay, D.A., and D.J. Morris. 1991. Industrial economics. New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hutzschereuter, T., J.C. Voll, and A. Verbeke. 2011. The impact of added cultural distance and cultural diversity on international expansion patterns: A Penrosean perspective. Journal of Management Studies 48: 305–329.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kor, Y.Y., and J.T. Mahoney. 2000. Penrose’s resource-based approach: The process and product of research creativity. Journal of Management Studies 37: 109–139.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lockett, A., J. Wiklund, P. Davidsson, and S. Girma. 2011. Organic and acquisitive growth: Re-examining, testing, and extending Penrose’s growth theory. Journal of Management Studies 48: 48–74.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mahoney, J.T., and J.R. Pandian. 1992. The resource-based view within the conversation of strategic management. Strategic Management Journal 13: 363–380.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mortensen, D.T. 1973. Generalized costs of adjustment and dynamic factor demand theory. Econometrica 41: 657–665.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Orser, B.J., S. Hogarth-Scott, and A.L. Riding. 2000. Performance, firm size, and management problem solving. Journal of Small Business Management 38: 42–58.

    Google Scholar 

  • Penrose, E.T. 1955. Limits to the growth and size of firms. American Economic Review 45: 531–543.

    Google Scholar 

  • Penrose, E.T. 1959. The theory of the growth of the firm. New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Penrose, E.T. 1960. The growth of the firm: A case study of the Hercules Powder Company. Business History Review 34: 1–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pitelis, C., and A. Verbeke. 2007. Edith Penrose and the future of the multinational enterprise: New research directions. Management and International Review 47: 139–149.

    Google Scholar 

  • Richardson, G.B. 1964. The limits to a firm’s rate of growth. Oxford Economic Papers 16: 9–23.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rubin, P.H. 1973. The expansion of firms. Journal of Political Economy 81: 936–949.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shane, S.A. 1996. Hybrid organizational arrangements and their implications for firm growth and survival: A study of new franchisors. Academy of Management Journal 39: 216–234.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shen, T.Y. 1970. Economies of scale, Penrose-effect, growth of plants and their size distribution. Journal of Political Economy 78: 702–716.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Slater, M. 1980. The managerial limitations to a firm’s rate of growth. Economic Journal 90: 520–528.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tan, D. 2003. The limits to the growth of multinational firms in a foreign market. Managerial and Decision Economics 24: 569–582.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tan, D. 2009. Foreign market entry strategies and post-entry growth: Acquisitions vs. greenfield investments. Journal of International Business Studies 40: 1046–1063.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tan, D., and J.T. Mahoney. 2005. Examining the Penrose effect in an international business context: The dynamics of Japanese firm growth in US industries. Managerial and Decision Economics 26: 113–127.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tan, D., and J.T. Mahoney. 2007. The dynamics of Japanese firm growth in US industries: The Penrose effect. Management International Review 47: 259–279.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, R.S. 1994. The franchise life cycle and the Penrose effect. Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization 24: 207–218.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Treadway, A.B.. 1970. Adjustment costs and variable inputs in the theory of the competitive firm. Journal of Economic Theory 2: 329–347.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Uzawa, H. 1969. Time preference and the Penrose effect in a two-class model of economic growth. Journal of Political Economy 77: 628–652.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Danchi Tan .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Copyright information

© 2016 The Author(s)

About this entry

Cite this entry

Tan, D. (2016). Penrose Effect, the. In: Augier, M., Teece, D. (eds) The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Strategic Management. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-349-94848-2_647-1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-349-94848-2_647-1

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-349-94848-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Business and ManagementReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences

Publish with us

Policies and ethics