Abstract
This paper considers a competition between two multinationals (U, J) who compete in a third market (K). The multinationals have identical cost structures, but differ in that J comes from a country that is " taste-similar" to K, and hence produces products that match more closely the preferences of K residents. This similarity gives J an advantage in K's market, and if only one firm enters, J can earn higher profits. However, we show: (i) K may benefit more from the entry of the market-familiar firm (U), and (ii) in a strategic competition between the two firms, the market-familiarity may be a strategic disadvantage.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 58-62 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Japan and the World Economy |
Volume | 23 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 2011 |
Keywords
- Market familiarity
- Multinationals
- Strategic advantage
- Taste difference