Which ‘globalisations’ explain the overseas expansion of Chinese multinational enterprises through city-networks?

Abstract

This paper analyses the overseas expansion of Chinese multinational enterprises using city-network analysis, with the focus on identifying the ‘globalisations’ that influence Chinese firm expansion. Applying a stepwise regression model to explain the world city networks of Chinese multinational enterprises (CMNEs), we find that variables linked to political, infrastructural, economic and cultural attributes explain the overall network. We then analyse in detail the connectivities produced by CMNEs in four main economic sectors: advanced producer services (APS), general services (GS), manufacturing (MF) and building, energy and mining industry (BEM), finding evidence of multiple, overlapping globalisations across sectors. This conforms to intensive globalisation in APS, extensive globalisation in GS and MF, and politically oriented globalisation in BEM, driven largely by Belt and Road, and related initiatives. The state presence in CMNEs’ overseas expansions suggests that globalisation by firms is tied to state-led globalisation objectives in some contexts, which complements the narratives that cast firm-led globalisation as market-oriented and stateless.