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Article analysis:

The article "Liability of country foreignness and liability of regional foreignness: Their effects on geographic diversification and firm performance" explores the relationship between the liability of regional foreignness (LRF) and the liability of country foreignness (LCF) in relation to a firm's performance. The authors argue that previous research has overlooked the interactions between LRF and LCF, leading to different conclusions about the effectiveness of intra- and inter-regional diversification.

The article provides a clear definition of LRF and LCF, highlighting their differences in terms of costs associated with doing business across regions or countries. The authors also acknowledge that LCF is not a constant, as it may decrease with intra-regional diversification due to shared cultures, market demands, and competitors within a region. However, they argue that LRF increases with inter-regional diversification due to increased complexity and diversity in operations.

The hypotheses proposed by the authors are well-supported by existing literature, but there are some potential biases in their argument. For example, they focus primarily on MNEs rather than smaller firms, which may have different experiences with LRF and LCF. Additionally, they do not consider other factors that may influence a firm's decision to engage in intra- or inter-regional diversification, such as market saturation or competition.

Furthermore, while the authors acknowledge that LCF is dyad-specific and firm-specific, they do not explore how these factors may impact their findings. For example, a firm run by ethnic Mexicans may experience lower LCF in Mexico than a non-Mexican firm would.

Overall, the article provides valuable insights into the relationship between LRF and LCF in relation to geographic diversification and firm performance. However, there are some limitations to their argument that should be considered when interpreting their findings.