Informal Network Integration and MNEs Territorial Embeddedness: Mapping Differences

Abstract

This article deals with a theoretical opposition of two similar, but conceptually different spatial models of transborder network cooperation (namely MNEs’ territorial embeddedness and informal network integration) from the aspect of corporate power asymmetry of firms participating in such network structures. Two external phenomena of power asymmetry (symmetry) are presented giving as example cases of territorial embeddedness and informal network integration in North America and East Asia regions. The study is resulted in several features allowing the attribution of specific transborder production systems to be proposed to different types of network structures. The latter is done by a consideration of network characteristics, network effects and specifics of network core and periphery interaction.