INTERNATIONALISATION ET NOUVELLES IMPLANTATIONS DES FIRMES MULTINATIONALES : LE PROCESSUS SEQUENTIEL DU MODELE D’UPPSALA EST-IL TOUJOURS D’ACTUALITE?

Abstract

Our paper aims to discuss the relevance of the Uppsala model of firms internationalization in the current context of globalization. After analyzing the “stages” construction of the U model, we present an overview of main results of empirical studies testing the U model hypothesis. Thus, the empirical validation studies are confronted with critical analysis of its basic concepts. Finally we discuss further application to multinational firms location and entry analysis and many possible extensions of the U model.