CALL FOR PAPERS

Special Issue of the Journal of International Business Studies

THE MULTINATIONAL IN GEOGRAPHIC SPACE

Special Issue Editors

• Ulf Andersson, Copenhagen Business School, Denmark

• Sjoerd Beugelsdijk, University of Groningen, The Netherlands

• Ram Mudambi, Temple University, USASrilata Zaheer, University of Minnesota, USA

Deadline for submission: November 18, 2011

Tentative publication date: Spring 2013

Introduction

Although the impact of the changing strategy of MNEs on global economic geography is beginning to receive attention in the literature, IB scholars’ understanding of space remains relatively underdeveloped (McCann and Mudambi, 2005).  The O (Ownership) and I (Internalization) dimensions of Dunning’s eclectic paradigm are relatively well understood compared to the L (Location) dimension.

Because of the historical role of national borders, location in IB is often conceptualized and operationalized as a country-specific characteristic. Spatial heterogeneity exists in IB to the extent that countries differ in terms of their cultural and institutional framework, level of economic development and availability of natural resources. The IB literature tends to view space in terms of distance between countries, relying on measures such as cultural distance, institutional distance, psychic distance, distance between country centers, and so on. Whereas for some of these types of distance, the country is appropriate unit of analysis, this is not necessarily true for all. For example, the international cultural distance between two Scandinavian countries like Denmark and Sweden may well be smaller than that between two Indians, one from the Hindi-speaking North and the other from the Tamil-speaking South. Alternatively, to understand the role of geographic distance in the Canadian automotive supply chain by measuring the distance to the traditional industry cluster in Detroit would miss the emerging new automotive clusters in the American South where most non-US MNEs like Nissan, Toyota and BMW have located their assembly plants.

To improve our understanding of the spatial dimension of IB activity and the interaction of location with governance and organization aspects of MNE activity, we need to build on insights from economic and human geography and regional science. By integrating IB more closely with literatures that explicitly recognize the subtleties of geographic space, we push the frontiers of the field.  In the process, we make connections with the emerging literature in international strategy that emphasizes the importance of firm-level decision-making on geographical outcomes, insights that can advance the research frontiers of economic geography (Nachum and Zaheer, 2005; Shaver and Flyer, 2000; Alcacer and Chung, 2002). At the most fundamental level, this involves incorporating the impact of sub-national locations on decision-making and performance of multinational enterprises (MNEs). We contend that uniting the IB literature’s rich insights on the organization and governance of the MNE with the nuanced analysis of space in the economic geography literature offers great opportunities for advancing our understanding of both internationalizing firms and locations.

Topics for the Special Issue

We welcome both theoretical and empirical contributions, and papers adopting either a single or multi level analysis. Illustrative topics are mentioned below:

• The 'death of distance' and ‘spiky’ global innovation; some scholars have declared the globalized world to be flat, but at the same time the strategic and economic importance of geographically concentrated networks of firms has increased (e.g. Lahiri, 2010). Global connectedness is increasingly recognized as crucial determining the position of individual clusters in the global hierarchy (Cantwell and Janne, 1999; Meyer et al., 2011) and the success of firms within them. For MNEs, managing a portfolio of locations and serving as a key part of the “connective tissue” amongst clusters puts them in a powerful position. Equally, MNEs that fail to leverage their unique position may find themselves weaker in consequence. How does the increased importance of connectedness affect the traditional view in IB linking control to ownership given that connectedness does not necessarily coincide with ownership?

• While there is a rich literature in IB on the MNE’s local embeddedness (e.g., Andersson et al., 2002), its spatial aspects are often simply assumed; they have rarely been distinguished or explored in an explicit manner.  Influential IB scholars have recently highlighted this lacuna (Dunning, 2009).  How is IB theory and practice affected when geographical co-location and embeddedness are disentangled?

• From Ownership, Location and Internalization to Place, Space and Organization (PSO); within the OLI framework the role of transaction costs is crucial. In the core-periphery model the role of space, dominates. How does an interpretation of transaction costs along spatial dimensions (PSO) affect the predictions of the OLI framework?

• Distance and the liability of foreignness; distance is conceptualized as a multidimensional construct mostly relating to inter-country characteristics. Is it meaningful to conceptualize distance as a multidimensional construct? Can we do a better job of disentangling these dimensions, in order to distinguish more clearly what is attributable to geographic distance, and what is attributable to cultural distance? E.g. the institutions of a place may depend partly on cultural characteristics, and partly on geographic issues such as resource availability, climate, proximity and relationship to other places etc. So papers that better compared and related the dimensions of distance in an IB setting might well prove foundational for other work to be done in this domain.

• Economic geographers are concerned with firm location in general: why they start in certain places, why they tend to stick to those locations, why they sometimes move, why they expand by making investments in other locations and how they organize and co-ordinate their multi-locational activities.  Is the multinational firm simply a special case of a multi-locational firm?  How do the notions of place, space and organization bear on this question?

• The role of the MNE in cluster formation; clusters are known to have life cycles. Whereas MNEs can play a catalyzing role in the start of a cluster and its further development, it is not clear how clusters and the (subsidiaries of) MNEs belonging to these clusters are affected when clusters are imploding or dissolving. Economic geography provides insights on cluster life cycles, and the questions arise relating to MNEs’ roles in these life cycles.  More specifically, MNEs improve the external connectivity of a cluster and we need to know more the implications of this connectivity for the development of the cluster.

• Entry mode theory and spatial heterogeneity; entry mode theory is dominated by the role of transaction costs in determining the optimal governance structure. This theory and the associated empirical studies are in general space neutral. Economic geography has shown that transaction costs are not space neutral. How are the predictions made by entry mode theory affected when we incorporate the notion of spatial transaction costs?  Whereas country level institutional characteristics have been incorporated in entry mode studies, sub-national level spatial heterogeneity has so far been absent.

• Spatial antecedents and consequences of geographical value chain disaggregation; as value chains are increasingly disaggregated into activities, projects and tasks, the internal networks of MNEs are becoming more open and increasingly decentralized. What does this likely imply for the international locational dispersion of activity across the full networks orchestrated by MNEs (which may include both 'internal' and 'external' elements if we define these purely in traditional ownership terms)? Conversely, what are the implications for locations of being relatively more (or less) conducive to more open kinds of firm networks locally, e.g. with respect to their IP regimes or other local institutional conditions?

In addition, we provide illustrative examples of some more general topic areas:

• Local partners and geographic space; spatially proximate vs. spatially distant local partners;

• The disaggregation of the value chain and the location of value creation;

• Extra-organizational knowledge spillovers in industrial districts/clusters.

Submission process

All manuscripts will be reviewed as a cohort for this special issue. Manuscripts must be submitted in the window between November 1, 2011, and November 18, 2011, at http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/jibs. All submissions will go through the JIBS regular double-blind review process and follow the standard norms and processes.

For more information about this Call for Papers, please contact the Special Issue Editors or the JIBS Managing Editor (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

Note: Please see full version at www.jibs.net for list of references cited in this call.

58th Annual North American Meetings of the Regional Science Association International, 2011.

Second Conference of the Regional Science Association of the Americas, 2011.

Conference Registration Now Open

Join us in Miami, Florida, USA for the 58th North American Meetings of the Regional Science Association International (RSAI) and the 2nd conference of the Regional Science Association of the Americas (RSAmericas) sponsored by the North American Regional Science Council (NARSC).  The joint conference will be held at the Hyatt Regency Miami (400 South East Second Avenue) from Wednesday November 9th to Saturday November 12th, 2011.

You can learn more about the conference, submit an abstract, and register at the NARSC Website at: http://www.narsc.org/. Visit the Conference section of the Website and click the User Area link to register or sign in. Individual papers and sessions must be submitted online in the abstract submission section of the Website between now and August 1, 2011. The conference registration section will allow secure electronic financial transactions.

Conference organizers welcome individual papers and organized sessions relating to a wide variety of topics inclusive within the diverse realm of regional science.  We are an international scholarly organization that focuses on regional analysis, ranging from urban and spatial theory to applied problems in regional development, sustainability, environmental management, and rural land use.  We are an interdisciplinary association, with members representing fields as diverse as economics, agricultural economics, public policy, urban planning, civil engineering, geography, finance, sociology and demography.  The annual North American RSAI conference is the premier regional science meeting in North America and attracts scholars and practitioners from around the world. This year, for the first time, this event will be held in conjunction with the Second Conference of the Regional Science Association of the Americas. NARSC is delighted to present to you this double-feature opportunity.

You can participate in the conference in several ways. You can submit a proposal to present a paper; alternatively, you can prepare a poster that will be displayed during the conference, if your work is conducive to visual communication. You can organize a panel session aimed at discussing a cutting-edge topic of Regional Science. Finally, you can organize a paper session contributed to by four scholars.

A block of rooms have been reserved at the Hyatt Regency Miami for the nights of November 8-12, 2011 at the discounted rate of $189/night for a single or a double (plus applicable taxes of 13%).  Deep discounted rates are also available to students with proof of status. The cut-off date for making room reservations at the discounted rate is October 16, 2011.

Graduate students are encouraged to submit their work to compete in one of the two student paper contests. More information is available on-line at http://www.narsc.org/newsite/?page_id=32.

Conference organizers have setup a conference fellowship program for participants with a home and work address in Latin America. A limited number of grants in the amount of $200 to $500 will be made on a competitive basis. Funding priority will be based on the following criteria: financial needs, seniority, intellectual contribution to the conference. More information can be found at http://www.narsc.org/newsite/?page_id=67.

If you have questions about the program or submitting a paper or session proposal, or experience any difficulties, contact the 2011 Program Chair, Neil Reid, phone: 419-530-3593; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. All other questions about the conference can be directed to the 2011 Local Arrangements Co-Chairs: Shelby Gerking, phone: 407-823-4729; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Shaoming Cheng, phone: 305-348-0432; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. For sponsorship, exhibitor spaces, and overall arrangements, contact Jean-Claude Thill at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The Multinational in Geographic Space

Special Issue Editors: Ulf Andersson, Copenhagen Business School, Denmark; Sjoerd Beugelsdijk, University of Groningen, The Netherlands; Ram Mudambi, Temple University, USA; Srilata Zaheer, University of Minnesota, USA

Reflecting the steady broadening of International Business research perspectives and the journal’s goal of better integrating such diverse approaches to the core subject matter of IB, The Journal of International Business Studies has just issued a Call for Papers for a Special Issue of JIBS on The Multinational in Geographic Space. Submissions are due by November 18, 2011. This Special Issue will improve our understanding of the spatial dimension of IB activity and the interaction of location with governance and organization aspects of MNE activity – building on insights from economic and human geography and regional science.

All manuscripts will be reviewed as a cohort for this special issue. Manuscripts must be submitted in the window between November 1, 2011, and November 18, 2011, at http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/jibs. All submissions will go through the JIBS regular double-blind review process and follow the same norms and processes.

For more information about this Call for Papers, please contact the Special Issue Editors or the JIBS Managing Editor (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

II Workshop in Urban Dynamics in Chile.

The Complex Engineering Systems Institute, ISCI, would like to invite you to submit an abstract to the second version of the workshop URBANICS.

PRESENTATION

URBAN DYNAMICS has received increased interest from geographers, economist, mathematicians and computer scientists, all contributors to the theoretical body to understand this subject, while modelers attempt to forecast the dynamics of the system by producing more complex applicable models. From both ends, the theoretical and the application side, there is a number of open and interrelated questions that make this field an attractive matter.
In 2010 we held the URBANICS I Workshop, a highly motivating event that concluded founding the Urbanics Network, whose members decided to have workshops every two years as a way to pursure research collaboration and discussions. In this coming event we expect to hear the advances in research and on ongoing collaborations, and to foster new ideas and additional agglomeration between participants.

TOPICS AND STRUCTURE
The workshop aims to bring out discussion between scientists on: i) City Dynamics Theory; ii) Application Models and iii) Networks. The workshop allocates time for papers presentations, poster sessions and workshop style discussions on open topics that will be proposed to stimulate future research.
The workshop will be held on March 26-29, 2012, when the summer-autumn transition yields mild sunny and tranquil days.
The location this time is Termas de Chillán. This beautiful spa in the Andes was chosen carefully to combine the peaceful natural environment of the mountains, the quality of a spa and ski resort (sorry, skiing is not available at this time of the year) and a Convention Center (www.termaschillan.cl).

See brochure

Open Innovation for Regional Development

26-28 September 2011, Tampere, Finland

As a result of globalizing trends, clusters are becoming more global as well. To stay competitive new strategies have to be utilized. One successful approach has been the use of openness between the various actors in the local systems.

This year’s conference of the Technopolicy Network will therefore be on Open Innovation for Regional Development to explore how this shift will impact your region and what you can do to profit from this change.

Check out the program here!

More info: www.technopolicy.net/annualconference/  

Note: 100€ reduction in registration for RSAI members (have to put the membership code RSAI in the remarksbox indicated)

The International Geophysical Conference brings together a mix of domestic and international delegates from industry, government and education with interests in application of geophysics to minerals and petroleum exploration and engineering and environmental studies.

Important Dates

Registration of Interest to Submit: Now Open
Registration Opens: August 2011
Extended Abstract Deadline: 2 September 2011
Authors Notified of Acceptance: 14 October 2011
Author Registration Deadline: 15 November 2011
Early Bird Registration Closes: 15 November 2011

ASEG  2012 Conference
Managed by arinex pty limited

Postal Address:
GPO Box 128, Sydney NSW 2001 Australia 

Program Enquiries
Ph: +61 7 3226 2800

Registration Enquiries
Ph: +61 2 9265 0700
Fax: +61 2 9267 5443 

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Website: www.aseg2012.com.au  

The Western Regional Science Association (WRSA) will hold its 51st annual meeting 8-11 February, 2012 in Kauai, Hawaii. 

The paper submission deadline is October 15, 2011 and all papers should be submitted to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

More information is available at the WRSA website at www.wrsa.info. 

 Call for Papers: WRSA | 51st annual meeting

Dear Sir/Madam

The Australia New Zealand Regional Science Association is pleased to announce that it is hosting its 35th annual conference in Canberra, Australia, at The Brassey conference centre from 6 to 9 December 2011.

The theme of the conference is Building Adaptive Regions. Details such as links for registration, submission of abstracts and booking of accommodation at the conference venue are on our website at www.anzrsai.org.

Please note that the final date for the submission of abstracts is 2 September, and the final date for early bird registration is 23 September.

After the great success of the PRSCO 2011 conference in Seoul, we are looking forward to welcoming people to our ANZRSAI 2011 conference. I warmly invite RSAI members to consider joining us in Canberra in December.

Best wishes

Paul Dalziel

ANZRSAI 2011 President