Multinational Pharmaceutical Firms' Fdi in China: Determinants, Entry Modes, and Performance

The opening-up of Chinese economy in 1978 and the subsequent reforms provided multinational corporations with tremendous opportunities to invest in and explore the world's largest developing market. China, however, presents a complicated and difficult operating business environment for foreign investors. This PhD thesis demonstrates a comprehensive, multi-level study on 44 multinational pharmaceutical firms' strategic planning and implementation of foreign direct investment (FDI) strategies in China during the first tweenty years of China's open-door policy and economic reform era. The study developed an integrated master conceptual framework and examined a series of key issues related to the strategic FDI decision-making and implementation processes, including FDI determinants, entry mode choice between joint venture and wholly owned subsidiary, joint venture partners selection, FDI operating location choice within China, and the determinants of FDI effectiveness and success in China. The thesis received exemplary reports from all examiners, and the PhD candidate was awarded the "Research Achievement Prize" by Swinburne University.