Research on International Service Marketing: Enrichment and Challenges

P.F.J. Pauwels, J.C. de Ruyter

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterAcademic

Abstract

Today, services officially represent more than 22% (or about USD 3 trillion) of world trade and are the fastest growing sector of world trade for the last two decades (OECD, 2004; WTO, 2001). Optimist analysts believe that services will reach 50% of world trade by 2020 (Hibbert, 2003). Nearly half of the 100 biggest multinationals are service firms with an average revenue of over USD 50 million in 1997 (Hibbert, 2003; Keillor, Hult & Kandemir, 2004). The American McKinsey and Company in management consulting, the Danish ISS in facility management and the Dutch VNU in business information illustrate how service firms may succeed in gaining and holding a global dominant position. On top of the official service economy, the (hidden) service component of product markets is responsible for a major and increasing part of the total value of the world merchandise trade (Brown et al., 2001; Grönroos, 1990). Illustrative in this respect is the critical role of the global service systems of the Swedish/Swiss ABB in automation technology and of the American Caterpillar in construction and mining equipment.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationResearch on International Service Marketing
Subtitle of host publicationA State of the Art
Pages1-7
Number of pages7
Volume15
ISBN (Electronic)978-1-84950-331-0
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2005

Publication series

SeriesAdvances in International Marketing
ISSN1474-7979

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