Local density and foreign subsidiary performance

Local density (the number of firms vying for similar resources in a local environment) has been overlooked in explaining foreign subsidiary performance. This study drew upon the concepts of liability of foreignness and density dependence to examine how local density within a host country affected performance-directly and indirectly-through effects on market experience and strategic conformity. We found that local density was negatively related to foreign subsidiary performance and that market experience was less beneficial in high-density environments. Strategic conformity enhanced performance in low-density environments but adversely affected performance in high-density environments.