To read this content please select one of the options below:

Multinationals and the European Poor: Reverse Knowledge Transfer or ad hoc Solutions?

International Business in a VUCA World: The Changing Role of States and Firms

ISBN: 978-1-83867-256-0, eISBN: 978-1-83867-255-3

Publication date: 21 October 2019

Abstract

This contribution discusses how multinational firms could serve poorer consumers in developed regions like Europe and through which business models, beyond the traditional corporate social responsibility (CSR) actions. MNEs have still limited capacity to address poverty in developed countries, notwithstanding some experience they have matured in developing markets and the striking figures of rising poverty in Europe and the United States. This research focuses on a specific issue: the role of MNEs in addressing poverty in developed markets, either leveraging on their previous expertise gained in developing countries or designing novel ad hoc solutions. The capacity of Western multinationals to tackle effectively the challenge of profitably doing business at the base of the pyramid (BoP) represents a controversial issue in literature and an intriguing topic for international business studies. The empirical research is based on three case studies. The companies have already gained experience in targeting BoP markets in developing countries. They are analyzed in order to understand better their approaches and their applicability in Europe.

Keywords

Citation

Zucchella, A. and Malvestito, S. (2019), "Multinationals and the European Poor: Reverse Knowledge Transfer or ad hoc Solutions?", Tulder, R.V., Verbeke, A. and Jankowska, B. (Ed.) International Business in a VUCA World: The Changing Role of States and Firms (Progress in International Business Research, Vol. 14), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 269-286. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1745-886220190000014015

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2020 Emerald Publishing Limited