Technology and international orientation: Sectoral differences in home-region orientation.

Abstract

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to shed light on recent debates in this journal on differences in home-region orientation depending on type of company and the home region in which they are based. Design/methodology/approach – The paper looks at the structure of trade (imports and exports) across different types of goods in order to shed light on differences between sectors and types of technology. The paper also explores structures across regions in order to shed light on regional differences. Findings – This research indicates that there are major differences in structures of trade between different types of goods. However, these differences do not necessarily conform to a clear pattern across different technological levels and differ between regions and the direction of trade. The fact that Asian cultures have greater psychic distance from European and North American cultures is not reflected in higher levels of home-region orientation.