Title: Internationalisation of SMEs: European comparative studies

Authors: Vanessa Ratten, Leo-Paul Dana, Mary Han, Isabell Welpe

Addresses: Queensland University of Technology GPO Box 2434, Brisbane QLD 4001, Australia. ' University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, New Zealand. ' School of Business Management, Ryerson University 350 Victoria Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5B 2K3, Canada. ' Institute for Information, Organisation and Management, Munich School of Management, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich Ludwigstr. 28 D-80539 Munchen, Germany

Abstract: We examine new research on the internationalisation of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in 27 European countries. We find that, in both established market economies and in transition economies, SME international entrepreneurship is driven by internal resources and capabilities, membership in networks or clusters, favourable government policies, economy, competitive market conditions, and industry structure. We then develop a conceptual model and propositions of the drivers of European SME internationalisation. Our findings have important implications for managers in improving their firms| international market performance.

Keywords: international entrepreneurship; Europe; small and medium-sized enterprises; SMEs; internationalisation; institutions; transitional economies; small business.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESB.2007.013257

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2007 Vol.4 No.3, pp.361 - 379

Published online: 14 Apr 2007 *

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