The Evolution Of The U.S. International Trade Intermediary

Most studies of US international trade intermediaries (ITI) have dealt with static issues, not with the dynamic evolution of the ITIs. A model is proposed for use in analyzing that dynamic evolution. The model is based on Miles' (1980) model of organizational evolution, which focuses on the processes by which organizations manage the constraints imposed on them by the external environment. The basic model is changed to include: 1. transaction-cost analysis, 2. an expanded conceptual framework for operationalizing the decisions made by ITIs, 3. the concept of task environment, and 4. a redefinition of strategy. The expanded conceptual framework includes or clarifies the concepts of actor, process, structure, and function. The redefinition of strategy is based on Dunning's (1981) eclectic paradigm, which includes the concept of ownership or firm-specific advantages.