The eclectic paradigm is a theory in economics and is also known as the OLI-Model or OLI-Framework.[1][2] It is a further development of the theory of internalization and published by John H. Dunning in 1980.[3]
The theory of internalization itself is based on the transaction cost theory.[3] This theory says that transactions are made within an institution if the transaction costs on the free market are higher than the internal costs. This process is called internalization.[3]
For Dunning, not only the structure of organization is important.[3] He added 3 additional factors to the theory:[3]
| Source: Dunning (1981)[5] |
Categories of advantages | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ownership advantages |
Locational advantages |
Internalization advantages |
||
| Form of market entry |
Export |
Yes | No | No |
| Licensing[1] |
Yes | Yes | No | |
| FDI |
Yes | Yes | Yes | |
The idea behind the Eclectic Paradigm is to merge several isolated theories of international economics in one approach.[1] Three basic forms of international activities of companies can be distinguished: Export, FDI and Licensing.[1] The so-called OLI-factors are three categories of advantages, namely the ownership advantages, locational advantages and internalization advantages.[1] A precondition for international activities of a company are the availability of net ownership advantages. These advantages can both be material and immaterial. The term net ownership advantages is used to express the advantages that a company has in foreign and unknown markets.[1]
According to Dunning two different types of FDI can be distinguished. While resource seeking investments are made in order to establish access to basic material like raw materials or other input factors, market seeking investments are made to enter an existing market or establish a new market.[1] A closer distinction is made by Dunning with the terms efficiency seeking investments, strategic seeking investments and support investments.[1]
| Trade and FDI patterns for industries and countries.[6] |
Location advantages | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Strong | Weak | ||
| Ownership advantages |
Strong | Exports | Outward FDI |
| Weak | Inward FDI | Imports | |
The eclectic paradigm also contrasts a country's resource endowment and geographical position (providing locational advantages) with firms resources (ownership advantages).[6] In the model, countries can be shown to face one of the four outcomes shown in the figure above.[6] In the top, right hand box in the figure above firms possess competitive advantages, but the home domicile has higher factor and transport costs than foreign locations.[6] The firms therefore make a FDI abroad in order to capture the rents from their advantages.[6] But if the country has locational advantages, strong local firms are more likely to emphasize exporting.[6] The possibilities when the nation has only weak firms, as in most developing countries, leads to the opposite outcomes.[6] These conditions are similar to those suggested by Porter's diamond model of national competitiveness.[6]
In dependence of the categories of advantage there can be chosen the form of the international activity. If a company has ownership advantages like having knowledge about the target market abroad, for example staff with language skills, information about import permissions, appropriate products, contacts and so on, it can do a licensing. The licensing is less cost-intensive than the other forms of internalization.
If there are internalization advantages, the company can invest more capital abroad. This can be achieved by export in form of an export subsidiary.
The FDI is the most capital intensive activity that a company can choose. According to Dunning, it is considered that locational advantages are necessary for FDI. This can be realized by factories which are either bought or completely constructed abroad. FDI is the most capital intensive form of internalization activity.