Internationalization and Networks in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: the role of ethnic ties

The international insertion of small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) has attracted academic attention with the emergence of new internationalization theories based on the network approach. There is evidence that social networks based on descent ties contribute to the international integration of firms, particularly small ones. The quantitative cross-sectional study conducted with 71 SME affiliated with the Business Association of Blumenau, city marked by German immigration, sought to test the predictive role of descent ties (content of ties and strength of ties) in the degree of SME internationalization. The results suggest that only the strength of ties (frequency of contacts with the country of descent) contributes to explaining the degree of internationalization. Limitations of sample size require caution in generalizing the results.