Resources Investment and Export Competitive Advantage of Firms in a Transition Economy : The Moderating Role of Domestic Institutional Environment and Competitive Pressures

In this study, we provide a research framework that unbundles the impact of different institutional attributes (i.e., the degree of perceived specificity, stability, predictability, and enforceability of property rights and contracting institutions) on the firm's resources and capabilities investment, as well as competitive advantage under different degrees of competitive pressures in domestic and overseas markets. We empirically test this model with a sample of exporting firm in an emerging and transition economy, i.e., Vietnam. The statistical results show that there are strong relationships between the domestic institutional environment and the firm's export-related resources and capabilities investment, as well as between export-related resources and capabilities investment and export competitive advantage. Nevertheless, the moderating effect of competitive pressures is not statistically supported. Implications for managers, policy makers and researchers are suggested