Entrepreneurs' choice of entry strategy in emerging and developed markets

The model presented here acknowledges the complexity of the entry strategy decision and offers guidance on when to enter the market and how to enter the market, taking into consideration the current environment. From speculations over the differences between emerging and developed economies, the model offers a systematic way to determine the optimal entry strategy in terms of entry timing and level of mimicry. An implication of the model is that the cost/benefit ratio from using a high mimicry entry strategy is lower for companies entering emerging economies than it is for companies entering developed economies. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.