Research on Cross-border M&A Networks in “One Belt One Road” Countries Based on SNA

Abstract

This paper constructs a cross-border M&A transaction network in the “One Belt One Road” countries, and explores the structural evolution characteristics of the network through social network analysis methods. The results show that the degree of closeness of M&A transactions between countries in the “One Belt One Road” cross-border M&A network has increased year by year, but there is still a lot of room for development as a whole; more developed economies are at the core of the network. The weaker economies have almost no influence in the network; the cross-border M&A activities in the sectors of Central and Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States as the main body are relatively active. Southeast Asian countries have become popular areas for capital inflows in recent years. Western Asian countries are more scattered and difficult to form blocks; the M&A linkages between countries have gradually shown the "Matthew effect."