A Bibliometric Study of John Dunning’s Contribution to International Business Research

Ferreira, Manuel Anibal Silva Portugal Vasconcelos; Pinto, Cláudia Sofia Frias; Serra, Fernando Antonio Ribeiro; Santos, João Carvalho

doi:10.7819/rbgn.v15i46.1163

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Subject Area: Education and Research in Administration and Accountancy • Rev. bras. gest. neg. 15 (46) • Jan-Mar 2013 • https://doi.org/10.7819/rbgn.v15i46.1163 copy

A Bibliometric Study of John Dunning’s Contribution to International Business Research

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

ABSTRACT

This article offers a review of John Dunning’s contribution to international business (IB) research, so as to assess the impact of Dunning and of the Eclectic paradigm on this discipline. The contribution of Dunning and of the Eclectic paradigm - usually referred to as OLI - are a core reference to current international business research, namely for studying location decisions, foreign investment, entry modes and internationalization, and for the multinational enterprise theory. First, we review the conceptual foundations of Dunning’s academic contribution. Second, methodologically, we carry out a bibliometric study of articles published in 14 respected academic business magazines over a period of 31 years, between 1980 and 2010. A sample of 697 published articles that refer to Dunning’s work supports the analysis of citations and co-citations matrixes and of relevant themes, allowing us to verify the influence of Dunning’s work on the international business and Management disciplines. This study allowed us to identify the network of connections between Dunning’s Eclectic paradigm and a variety of international business theories, concepts and authors, as well as with the main subjects studied in the discipline. We observed the connections to the transaction costs theory, resource-based view, industrial organization and evolutionary theory. This study also contributes to scholars’ better understanding of the development of the discipline and of the structure of knowledge within connections between theories and authors. Through their contributions, scholars such as John Dunning leave their imprint on the way in which disciplines and knowledge evolve. Dunning’s work, in the Eclectic paradigm, systematized three conditions that guide the internationalization of companies - and is now a reference for entrepreneurial activities, scholars and research.

Keywords:
John Dunning; OLI; Eclectic paradigm; Bibliometric study; International business

Ownership or firm-specific advantages	Location advantages	Internalization advantages
Access to markets, products and factors. Product differentiation. Risk diversification. Specific appropriations: staff, capital, organization. Greater efficiency, coordination and leverage of resources from different locations, improving company capacities. Use of parent company’s resources (through transfer pricing, for example). Greater dimension, scale economies and scope. International experience. Flexibility in acquisition and production, for better location. Recognition of fusion and acquisition opportunities.	Market potential. Input price differences. Quality of inputs (natural resources, skilled labor). Financial resources. Transportation, communications and infrastructure costs. Free trade barriers (import quotas, tariffs) Distance between markets and inputs. Investment policies; country risk. Country’s tax breaks. Physical distance, language, culture. Clusters of related companies, taking advantage of agglomeration externalities.	Reduction in transaction costs. Property rights protection. Solution of asymmetrical information problems between suppliers and customers (market imperfections). Reduction in exchange costs. Possibility of agreements. Ways of avoiding or exploiting state interventions (such as customs tariffs or investment incentives). Reduction in buyers’ and/or sellers’ uncertainty. Offer control in quantity and quality. Sales control. Strategic gains. Internalization of positive externalities. Inexistence of forward markets.

Year	Article/book title	Contribution
1958	DUNNING, J. (1958DUNNING, J. H. American investment in British manufacturing industry. London: Allen & Unwin, 1958.) American Investment in British Manufacturing Industry.	O and L components are identified in direct North-American investments in the English industry.
1972 e 1973	DUNNING, J. (1972DUNNING, J. H. The location of international firms in an enlarged EEC: an exploratory paper. Manchester: Manchester Statistical Society, 1972.) The Location of International Firms in an Enlarged EEC. An Exploratory Paper. DUNNING, J. (1973DUNNING, J. H. The determinants of international production. Oxford Economic Papers, Oxford, v. 25, n. 3, p. 289-336, Nov. 1973.) The Determinants of International Production.	O and L components are employed to explain the probable consequences that result from England joining the European Common Market.
1977	DUNNING, J. (1977DUNNING, J. H. Trade, location of economic activity and the MNE: a search for an eclectic approach. In: OHLIN, B.; HESSELBORN, P.; WIJKMAN, P. (Ed.) The international allocation of economic activity: proceedings of a Nobel symposium held at Stockholm. London: Macmillan, 1977. p. 395-418.) Trade, Location of Economic Activity and the MNE: A Search for an Eclectic Approach.	Presents international production eclectic theory and reasons for this designation. Component I is added.
1981	DUNNING, J. (1981aDUNNING, J. H. Explaining the international direct investment position of countries: towards a dynamic or developmental approach, Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv, Kiel, v. 117, p. 30-64, 1981a.) Explaining the International Direct Investment Position of Countries: Towards a Dynamic or Developmental Approach.	Applies eclectic theory to explaining changes in countries’ FDI stance along four phases of economic development.
1981	DUNNING, J. (1981bDUNNING, J. H. International production and the multinational enterprise. Londres: Allen & Unwin, 1981b.) International Production and the Multinational Enterprise.	Changes terminology. Eclectic theory becomes Eclectic paradigm. Explains change.
1988	DUNNING, J. (1988DUNNING, J. H. The eclectic paradigm of international production: a restatement and some possible extensions. Journal of International Business Studies, Basingstoke, v. 19, n. 1, p. 1-31, Spring 1988.) The Eclectic Paradigm of International Production: A Restatement and Some Possible Extensions.	Divides ownership advantages into two types: asset-based (Oa) and transaction-based (Ot). Gives various suggestions for research applying the Eclectic paradigm - for example: foreign disinvestment, FDI effects, dynamics involving FDI, formalization of the paradigm etc.
1993	DUNNING, J. (1993aDUNNING, J. H. Multinational enterprises and the global economy. Wokingham: Addison-Wesley, 1993a.) Multinational Enterprises and the Global Economy.	Presents a new version of the Eclectic paradigm, which now encompasses FDI for improving resources (parallel to FDI focused on exploiting resources that are already available).
1993	DUNNING, J. (1993bDUNNING, J. H. The globalization of business. London: Routledge, 1993b.) The Globalization of Business.	Recognizes the importance of strategy as a company’s dynamic and specific variable, capable of influencing the OLI configuration faced by companies, also analyzing their reactions facing the new configuration.
1995	DUNNING, J. (1995DUNNING, J. H. Reappraising the eclectic paradigm in the age of alliance capitalism. Journal of International Business Studies, Basingstoke, v.26, n. 3, p. 461-491, 3rd Qtr.1995.) Reappraising the Eclectic Paradigm in the Age of Alliance Capitalism.	The paradigm now includes advantages that emerge from value-added operations and from relationships with institutions and/or resources in foreign countries. That is, it encompasses phenomena that is characteristic of a time of alliances between companies.
1996	DUNNING, J. & NARULA. R. (Orgs.) (1996) Foreign Direct Investment and Governments.	Considers theory on internationalization as a gradual process (investment development path) and adds a fifth phase of development to encompass FDI seeking resources (asset seeking).
1998/9	DUNNING, J. (1998DUNNING, J. H. Location and the multinational enterprise: a neglected factor. Journal of International Business Studies, Basingstoke, v. 29, n. l, p. 45-66, 1st Qtr. 1998.) Location and the Multinational Enterprise: A Neglected Factor.DUNNING, J. (1999aDUNNING, J. H. Globalization and the theory of MNE activity. In: HOOD, N.; Young, S. (Ed.). The globalization of multinational enterprise activity. Londres: Macmillan, 1999a. v. 2, p. 1-54.) Globalization and theTtheory of MNE Activity.	Analyzes how technological development and globalization determine the content and configuration of OLI advantages. Explains intra triad investment of resource seeking type investments.
1999	DUNNING, J. & DILYARD, J. (1999DUNNING, J. H. A Rose by any other name…? FDI theory in retrospect and prospect. Mimeo: University of Reading and Rutgers University, 1999b.) Towards a General Paradigm of Foreign Direct and Foreign Portfolio Investment.	Expansion of the OLI paradigm, now including foreign portfolio investment components (as such, shorter term investments).
2000	DUNNING, J. (2000DUNNING, J. H. The eclectic paradigm as an envelope for economic and business theories of MNE activity. International Business Review, London, v. 9, n. 2, p. 163-190, Apr. 2000.) The Eclectic Paradigm as an Envelope for Economic and Business Theories of MNE Activity.	Paradigm is presented as an MNE envelope theory bringing together complementary theories and concepts based on economy, and on organizational and management theory. Presents new challenges to the Ecletic paradigm.

Years published	Journal		Ranking (1)				Impact factor (6)	Total number of citations (7)	Number of publications (8)
Years published	Journal		ABCD 2010 (2)	ABS 2010 (3)	CRA 2010 (4)	ESS 2010 (5)	Impact factor (6)	Total number of citations (7)	Number of publications (8)
1976-2011	JIBS	Journal of International Business Studies	A*	4	4	0	4.184	40.120	1.761
1966-2008/2008-2011	MIR	Management International Review	A	4	4	0+	3.800	2.178	2.006
2005-2011	IBR	International Business Review	A	3	3	1	1.489	1.375	288
1997-2011	JWB	Journal of World Business	A	3	3	--	1.986	4.744	432
2007-2011	JIM	Journal of International Management	B	2	--	--	1.298	412	142
1999-2011	IMR	International Marketing Review	A	3	3	--	2.641	2.622	493
1983-2011	AMR	Academy of Management Review	A*	4	4	0+	6.720	112.995	1.998
1958-2011	AMJ	Academy of Management Journal	A*	4	4	0+	5.250	142.467	2.902
1973-2011	JBR	Journal of Business Research	A	3	3	1	1.773	27.099	2.845
1983-2011	JM	Journal of Management	A*	4	4	0	3.743	47.856	1.241
1966-2011	JMS	Journal of Management Studies	A*	4	4	0	3.817	30.694	2.858
1992 - 2011	OS	Organization Science	A*	3	3	2	2.339	48.670	941
1981 - 2011	OSt	Organization Studies	A*	3	3	1	0.882	22.011	2.066
2008-2011	APJM	Asia Pacific Journal of Management	B	2	3	2	3.355	535	113
1990 - 2011	SMJ	Strategic Management Journal	A*	4	4	0+	3.583	120.413	1.828

Year	Nº (a)	JIBS	MIR	IBR	JWB	JIM	IMR	AMR	AMJ	JBR	JM	JMS	Osc	Ost	APJM	SMJ	Total	% (b)
2010	65	81	33	44	42	29	31	27	63	185	56	60	62	71	34	74	892	7.3
2009	83	77	36	48	39	34	31	32	57	167	55	50	57	62	31	69	845	9.8
2008	53	75	32	46	33	23	33	43	55	142	40	59	61	53	31	70	796	6.7
2007	54	66		34	34	25	34	55	65	145	37	69	84	58		68	774	7.0
2006	40	52		36	29		27	49	61	151	38	69	77	48		63	700	5.7
2005	43	40		36	29		34	37	60	184	44	66	67	44		66	707	6.1
2004	27	31			30		30	29	56	146	43	58	60	48		67	598	4.5
2003	23	41			27		25	34	49	96	43	80	55	45		78	573	4.0
2002	33	43			27		24	26	70	95	36	48	38	43		69	519	6.4
2001	32	46			22		31	27	73	82	33	48	33	43		61	499	6.4
2000	28	41			23		28	46	74	103	49	49	42	43		69	567	4.9
1999	19	41			25		25	43	44	73	36	44	37	43		63	474	4.0
1998	27	40			24			37	44	67	32	38	40	53		65	440	6.1
1997	23	31			22			27	54	66	31	35	36	40		65	407	5.7
1996	17	43						40	64	70	36	35	41	40		67	436	3.9
1995	16	37						31	54	65	54	36	36	42		43	398	4.0
1994	12	32						24	41	72	38	34	34	39		51	365	3.3
1993	11	34						23	38	39	40	40	30	32		52	328	3.4
1992	14	30						26	26	41	37	37	25	28		55	305	4.6
1991	16	32						31	26	53	36	33	24			52	287	5.6
1990	18	29	32					31	34	52	42	31	23			45	319	5.6
1989	6	25	25					26	31	40	38	32	26			43	286	2.1
1988	11	19	28					28	28	52	38	32	31			53	309	3.6
1987	4	16	27					48	29	41	48	32	15			36	292	1.4
1986	6	31	27					49	30	41	40	33	17			32	300	2.0
1985	4	22	29					64	39	41	27	31	16			20	289	1.4
1984	5	38	27					62	43	35	18	22	14			24	283	1.8
1983	2	28	28					63	42	35	16	23	16			24	275	0.7
1982		26	29						52	36		21	14			24	202	0.0
1981	3	27	34						47	27		19	17			24	195	1.5
1980	2	23	46						38	33		21				24	185	1.1
Total (c)		1,197	433	244	406	111	353	1,058	1,487	2,475	1,081	1,285	1,128	875	96	1,616	13,845	5.0
Total (d)		281	43	77	45	24	9	14	27	24	15	24	11	13	3	87	697

Articles	Number of citations
DUNNING, J. (1993aDUNNING, J. H. Multinational enterprises and the global economy. Wokingham: Addison-Wesley, 1993a.) Multinational Enterprises and the Global Economy. (Book)	236
DUNNING, J. (1988DUNNING, J. H. The eclectic paradigm of international production: a restatement and some possible extensions. Journal of International Business Studies, Basingstoke, v. 19, n. 1, p. 1-31, Spring 1988.) The Eclectic Paradigm of International Production: a Restatement and some Possible Extensions. (Article)	141
DUNNING, J. (1980DUNNING, J. H. Toward an eclectic theory of international production: Some empirical tests. Journal of International Business Studies, Basingstoke, v. 11, n. 1, p. 9-31, Spring-Summer 1980.) Toward an Eclectic Theory of International Production: Some Empirical Tests. (Article)	112
DUNNING, J. (1977DUNNING, J. H. Trade, location of economic activity and the MNE: a search for an eclectic approach. In: OHLIN, B.; HESSELBORN, P.; WIJKMAN, P. (Ed.) The international allocation of economic activity: proceedings of a Nobel symposium held at Stockholm. London: Macmillan, 1977. p. 395-418.) Trade, Location of EconomicAactivity and the MNE: a Search for an Eclectic Approach. (Book chapter)	96
DUNNING, J. (1981bDUNNING, J. H. International production and the multinational enterprise. Londres: Allen & Unwin, 1981b.) International Production and the Multinational Enterprise. (Book)	91
DUNNING, J. (1998DUNNING, J. H. Location and the multinational enterprise: a neglected factor. Journal of International Business Studies, Basingstoke, v. 29, n. l, p. 45-66, 1st Qtr. 1998.) Location and the Multinational Enterprise: a Neglected Factor. (Article)	80
DUNNING, J. (1995DUNNING, J. H. Reappraising the eclectic paradigm in the age of alliance capitalism. Journal of International Business Studies, Basingstoke, v.26, n. 3, p. 461-491, 3rd Qtr.1995.) Reappraising the Eclectic Paradigm in the Age of Alliance Capitalism. (Article)	64
DUNNING, J. (1988DUNNING, J. H. The eclectic paradigm of international production: a restatement and some possible extensions. Journal of International Business Studies, Basingstoke, v. 19, n. 1, p. 1-31, Spring 1988.) Explaining International Production. (Book)	57
DUNNING, J. (1979DUNNING, J. H. Explaining changing patterns of international production: In defense of the eclectic theory, Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics, Oxford, v. 41, n. 4, p. 269-295, Nov. 1979.) Explaining Changing Patterns of International Production: in Defense of the Eclectic Theory. (Article)	38
DUNNING, J. (1973DUNNING, J. H. The determinants of international production. Oxford Economic Papers, Oxford, v. 25, n. 3, p. 289-336, Nov. 1973.) The Determinants of International Production. (Article)	34
DUNNING, J. e RUGMAN, A. (1985DUNNING, J.; RUGMAN, A. M. The influence of Hymer’s dissertation on the theory of foreign direct investment. American Economic Review, Nashville, v. 75, n. 2, p. 228-232, May 1985.) The Influence of Hymer’s Dissertation on the Theory of Foreign Direct Investment. (Article)	34
DUNNING, J. (2000DUNNING, J. H. The eclectic paradigm as an envelope for economic and business theories of MNE activity. International Business Review, London, v. 9, n. 2, p. 163-190, Apr. 2000.) The Eclectic Paradigm as an Envelope for Economic and Business Theories of MNE Activity. (Article)	34

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