International growth is a fundamental objective for multinational enterprises (MNEs), as it plays a crucial role in their global expansion and long-term success. Despite its importance, the relationship between international experience and MNE growth has remained unclear and inconsistently explored in the literature. Building on the Penrosian perspective, this study applies a multilevel meta-analysis to examine how international experience drives MNE growth. It also investigates the strategic role of home-country factors by analyzing how political, cultural, and social imprints influence this relationship. By integrating these home-country contingencies, the study provides fresh insights into the complex, multifaceted nature of MNE growth, emphasizing how the broader institutional environment from which a firm originates can influence its ability to scale internationally. This extension not only deepens the theoretical underpinnings of the Penrosian perspective but also offers valuable implications for strategic management, guiding firms in developing more effective strategies that account for both their internal capabilities and the external home-country influences they face in global markets.
