Unpacking the relationship between young ventures’ international learning effort and performance in the context of an emerging economy

This study investigates the relationship between international young ventures’ learning effort and performance in foreign markets, as well as its underlying contingencies, in the context of an emerging economy. We predict that international learning effort enhances international performance, that this effect is stronger at higher levels of market turbulence and intrafirm trust, and that the enabling role of trust for leveraging international learning effort into enhanced performance is particularly strong in turbulent markets. Results from a sample of 162 Chinese international young ventures support the hypotheses. The study has important implications for research on international entrepreneurship.