Global production aspirations and internationalization by state-owned enterprises: A Co-evolutionary view of state-driven industrialized economy

Abstract

The study aims to explore whether internationalization by state-owned enterprises is a curse or blessing in the context of aspirant industrial economies, such as China. What do state-owned enterprises' global production aspirations, such as outward foreign direct investment, bring into their home country? To answer this question, this study proposes a unique, co-evolutionary perspective of the state-driven industrialized economy by leveraging insights from economic discoveries such as Adam Smith's wealth of nations, David Ricardo's comparative advantage, and Michael Porter's competitive advantage. This view suggests that an outward foreign investment strategy may likely provide state-owned enterprises with access to resources and advanced production technologies, enhance innovation capabilities, gain more competitive advantage, and achieve superior performance, thus leading to spillover effects on their home country's wealth, comparative advantage, and competitiveness. This study discusses China's grand policies, economic performance, and successful cross-border industrial acquisitions.

Keywords

• State-owned enterprises
• Internationalization
• Outward foreign direct investment
• Wealth of nations
• Comparative advantage
• Competitiveness