The Characteristics of Joint Ventures in the People's Republic of China

Abstract

This paper compares the characteristics of international equity joint ventures in the People's Republic of China (PRC) with joint ventures in developing country market economies. The characteristics of Sino-foreign joint ventures were derived from twelve studies published since 1986, including the author's new sample. Twelve joint venture characteristics are reviewed along dimensions of design, management and performance. Joint ventures in PRC are frequently used, created due to government pressure and with government partners, and often formed with partners from ethnically related countries. Further, many intended joint ventures are never implemented, and those that are implemented have often been set up for a predetermined duration. The foreign partner most commonly has a minority equity position, and those who have used split control have seen stronger performance. Overall joint venture stability has been high, but is expected to decline, and foreign partner satisfaction with performance is low.