Value creation and appropriation through geographic strategy: Evidence from foreign direct investment

Choosing where to expand is an important firm strategy. We review and structure research in international location choices. First, we categorize research based on the motive for expansion, distinguishing market-seeking and resource-seeking explanations. Within these two categories we assess the progression of the literature toward an increased acknowledgment of strategic interaction among firms. We also evaluate work that begins to account for different modes of expansion. This emerging research explores the role of geography in acquisitions and begins to incorporate firms' often complex geographic configurations. Building on these developments, we highlight the following areas for future research: examining further the role of location in acquisitions, exploring the role of geography in postexpansion restructuring, and investigating the interaction of vertical and horizontal spillovers to entrants.