The late Robert Pearce, formerly Professor of International Business Emeritus, John H Dunning Centre for International Business, Henley Business School and Department of Economics, University of Reading, UK

• Contents: 1. Multinationals: in theory and practice 2. From FDI to the MNE: Hymer and the roots of ownership advantage 3. From innovation to internationalisation: the product cycle model 4. From multi-domestic hierarchy to network hierarchy 5. Trade and FDI revisited: the role of location 6. Internalisation: ownership advantage as an intermediate good 7. The knowledge-seeking transition: decentralising innovation and R&D 8. Multinationals from emerging economies: a new challenge of practice to theory 9. Evaluating the multinationals: a coda Index

'As a distinguished founder-member of the ''Reading School'', Bob Pearce provides a comprehensive account of the evolution of international business theory from the 1950s to the present day. He shows how, unlike abstract economic theories, international business theory has always been rooted in evidence on the behaviour of individual multinational firms. He provides a fascinating narrative of the early days of international business research, which he embeds within a broad thematic view. This book is indispensable reading for all serious scholars of international business studies.' --Mark Casson, University of Reading, UK'This tour de force gives us the very first, timely narrative history of the birth and growth of IB as a new discipline over the past half century. Robert Pearce lucidly interprets the major theoretical traces left by innovative economists whose frameworks built the foundation of the discipline. He weaves out a thought-provocative tapestry that demonstrates how national enterprises transform themselves into multinationals as they adapt to, and reshape, their altering global ecosystem - in a co-evolutionary fashion. The book is highly recommended as an ideal read to learn the conceptual warp and woof of IB.'--Terutomo Ozawa, Colorado State University, US

The late Robert Pearce, formerly Professor of International Business Emeritus, John H Dunning Centre for International Business, Henley Business School and Department of Economics, University of Reading, UK

• Contents: 1. Multinationals: in theory and practice 2. From FDI to the MNE: Hymer and the roots of ownership advantage 3. From innovation to internationalisation: the product cycle model 4. From multi-domestic hierarchy to network hierarchy 5. Trade and FDI revisited: the role of location 6. Internalisation: ownership advantage as an intermediate good 7. The knowledge-seeking transition: decentralising innovation and R&D 8. Multinationals from emerging economies: a new challenge of practice to theory 9. Evaluating the multinationals: a coda Index

'As a distinguished founder-member of the ''Reading School'', Bob Pearce provides a comprehensive account of the evolution of international business theory from the 1950s to the present day. He shows how, unlike abstract economic theories, international business theory has always been rooted in evidence on the behaviour of individual multinational firms. He provides a fascinating narrative of the early days of international business research, which he embeds within a broad thematic view. This book is indispensable reading for all serious scholars of international business studies.' --Mark Casson, University of Reading, UK'This tour de force gives us the very first, timely narrative history of the birth and growth of IB as a new discipline over the past half century. Robert Pearce lucidly interprets the major theoretical traces left by innovative economists whose frameworks built the foundation of the discipline. He weaves out a thought-provocative tapestry that demonstrates how national enterprises transform themselves into multinationals as they adapt to, and reshape, their altering global ecosystem - in a co-evolutionary fashion. The book is highly recommended as an ideal read to learn the conceptual warp and woof of IB.'--Terutomo Ozawa, Colorado State University, US

The late Robert Pearce, formerly Professor of International Business Emeritus, John H Dunning Centre for International Business, Henley Business School and Department of Economics, University of Reading, UK

• Contents: 1. Multinationals: in theory and practice 2. From FDI to the MNE: Hymer and the roots of ownership advantage 3. From innovation to internationalisation: the product cycle model 4. From multi-domestic hierarchy to network hierarchy 5. Trade and FDI revisited: the role of location 6. Internalisation: ownership advantage as an intermediate good 7. The knowledge-seeking transition: decentralising innovation and R&D 8. Multinationals from emerging economies: a new challenge of practice to theory 9. Evaluating the multinationals: a coda Index

'As a distinguished founder-member of the ''Reading School'', Bob Pearce provides a comprehensive account of the evolution of international business theory from the 1950s to the present day. He shows how, unlike abstract economic theories, international business theory has always been rooted in evidence on the behaviour of individual multinational firms. He provides a fascinating narrative of the early days of international business research, which he embeds within a broad thematic view. This book is indispensable reading for all serious scholars of international business studies.' --Mark Casson, University of Reading, UK'This tour de force gives us the very first, timely narrative history of the birth and growth of IB as a new discipline over the past half century. Robert Pearce lucidly interprets the major theoretical traces left by innovative economists whose frameworks built the foundation of the discipline. He weaves out a thought-provocative tapestry that demonstrates how national enterprises transform themselves into multinationals as they adapt to, and reshape, their altering global ecosystem - in a co-evolutionary fashion. The book is highly recommended as an ideal read to learn the conceptual warp and woof of IB.'--Terutomo Ozawa, Colorado State University, US