Title: Does entrepreneurs' human and relational capital affect early internationalisation? A cross-regional comparison

Authors: Juan S. Federico, Hugo D. Kantis, Alex Rialp, Josep Rialp

Addresses: Institute of Industry, Universidad Nacional de General Sarmiento, Argentina. ' Institute of Industry, Universidad Nacional de General Sarmiento, Argentina. ' Department of Business Economics, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Edifici B. 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain. ' Department of Business Economics, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Edifici B. 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain

Abstract: Using data of young firms from Latin America and Mediterranean Europe, we analyse the influence of human and relational capital on the likelihood of creating an early internationalising firm (EIF). Our results indicate that in the context of Latin American countries entrepreneurs| characteristics as well as their networks of relationships may influence decisively the likelihood of creating an EIF. Particularly, our findings indicate that young as well as senior, well-educated entrepreneurs who built entrepreneurial teams and, at the same time, had access to larger and more professional networks constitutes the typical profile of an EIF founder in Latin America. In contrast, the results for the Mediterranean Europe sample reveal that human and relational capital variables are less relevant. The results of this paper would contribute to the empirical literature analysing evidence from some less studied countries. Likewise, our results could serve as guidelines to those interested in supporting the emergence in EIF, particularly in Latin America.

Keywords: EIF; early internationalising firms; international entrepreneurship; resource-based view; RBV; Latin American; Mediterranean Europe; human capital; relational capital; professional networks; entrepreneurial characteristics.

DOI: 10.1504/EJIM.2009.024322

European Journal of International Management, 2009 Vol.3 No.2, pp.199 - 215

Published online: 31 Mar 2009 *

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