Understanding the Phenomenon of Born Globals from Emerging Markets: a 'Black Swan' or a Natural Event?

Abstract

The born global (BG) phenomenon is still under-explained and there has been relatively little research in the context of emerging markets. In this paper we focus on China as the leading exporter in the world. We explore the behavior of BG firms and the uniqueness of their emergence. We integrate multiple theoretical approaches and hypothesize that the probability of being a BG is linked with firm's internal and external capabilities and the context. Our findings indicate that BGs are better than traditional exporters in leveraging their resources and develop their institutional capabilities timely. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.