Motivations of Manufacturing reshoring: An interpretative framework

Purpose The paper presents a framework for the analysis of reshoring. The framework is then applied to analyze motivations for reshoring, as they emerge from extant literature and from new evidence collected. Design We start by formulating a literature-grounded definition of reshoring and reviewing some key theoretical approaches for international manufacturing Locations. In light of these theories, we then propose an interpretative framework for the analysis of reshoring motivations. Finally, we provide new evidence on this phenomenon, by presenting the findings of an extensive data collection of reshoring cases built on secondary data. Findings We show that a vast array of single drivers of reshoring can be extracted from extant literature; however, our interpretative framework eventually highlights 4 main typologies of reshoring motivations, thus allowing for a more sound comprehension of why the phenomenon happens. Our empirical investigation also proves useful in comparing the relative importance of these motivations, as it reveals that value driven and country specific motivations prevail over efficiency driven and firm specific ones, respectively. Originality/value This is the first paper that summarizes the motivations of the rising reshoring phenomenon and interprets them based on an original theory-derived classification framework.