The moderating effects of managers’ experience and gender on internationalization and firm performance of manufacturing enterprises in Turkey

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the effects of experience and gender of the managers on the relationship between internationalization and business performance of manufacturing firms in Turkey. Based on data collected by the World Bank for 263 manufacturing enterprises in Turkey and by regression estimation, the results show that the relationship between internationalization and firm performance was enhanced when the manager had more years of experience. In contrast, this relationship will be reduced when the business has a female executive manager. The result adds to the empirical evidence and reinforces the theory of internationalization, especially in transition economies. The implications of the research are to help policymakers to promulgate appropriate policies to support and accelerate the internationalization of businesses.

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