Internationalization barriers of SMEs from developing countries: a review and research agenda

• Published in: International journal of entrepreneurial behaviour & research Vol. 26; no. 6; pp. 1281 - 1310
• Main Authors: Chandra, Ashna, Paul, Justin, Chavan, Meena
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bradford Emerald Publishing Limited 07-09-2020; Emerald Group Publishing Limited
• Subjects: Bibliometrics; Developing countries; Economic development; Entrepreneurs; Globalization; Knowledge; LDCs; Small & medium sized enterprises-SME; Systematic review; Theory; Entrepreneurial orientation; Small and medium enterprises; Management competency; Developing countries; Systematic review; Internationalization; Institutions
• ISSN: 1355-2554; 1758-6534
• DOI: 10.1108/IJEBR-03-2020-0167

PurposeThis paper reviews the literature on internationalization barriers of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) from developing countries. The purposes of the study are: (1) to explicitly point out specific factors influencing the growth and internationalization of SMEs from developing countries and (2) to identify the research gaps to provide lucid and succinct directions for future research in this area.Design/methodology/approachThe authors selected relevant papers from journals listed on Web of Science and Scopus databases.FindingsIt was found that there are large number of questions remain unanswered regarding the internationalization of SMEs from developing countries regarding the factors determining their growth and internationalization.Originality/valueThis review distinctively accentuates previous studies on such barriers influencing the growth of SMEs from developing countries and systematically synthesize the issues faced by those SMEs. Thus, the authors seek to provide a comprehensible platform for researchers working in this area.