Title: Resources investment and export competitive advantage of firms in a transition economy: the moderating role of domestic institutional environment and competitive pressures

Authors: Vi Dung Ngo; Frank Janssen

Addresses: Hanoi School of Business, Vietnam National University, B1-144 Xuan Thuy, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Vietnam ' Louvain School of Management, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1, Place des Doyens, 1348 Louvain-La-Neuve, Belgium

Abstract: In this study, we provide a research framework that unbundles the impact of different institutional attributes (i.e., the degree of perceived specificity, stability, predictability, and enforceability of property rights and contracting institutions) on the firm's resources and capabilities investment, as well as competitive advantage under different degrees of competitive pressures in domestic and overseas markets. We empirically test this model with a sample of exporting firm in an emerging and transition economy, i.e., Vietnam. The statistical results show that there are strong relationships between the domestic institutional environment and the firm's export-related resources and capabilities investment, as well as between export-related resources and capabilities investment and export competitive advantage. Nevertheless, the moderating effect of competitive pressures is not statistically supported. Implications for managers, policy makers and researchers are suggested.

Keywords: domestic institutions; Vietnam; resource investment; export competitive advantage; transition economies; competitive pressures; firm resources; firm capabilities; exporting firms.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEXPORTM.2016.081559

International Journal of Export Marketing, 2016 Vol.1 No.2, pp.166 - 192

Received: 14 Nov 2015
Accepted: 11 Jun 2016
Published online: 13 Jan 2017 *

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