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Does Family Control Affect Trade Performance? Evidence for Italian Firms

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Author Info
Barba Navaretti, Giorgio
Faini, Riccardo
Tucci, Alessandra

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Abstract

This paper examines whether the export decision of firms is affected by their ownership structure, specifically it looks at whether family control is an obstacle to entering foreign markets. The underlying assumption is that family firms are risk averse. Risk aversion may be an obstacle to entering foreign markets, as far as these are perceived as more volatile and risky than the domestic one, particularly when such choice entices bearing relatively high sunk costs. We develop an illustrative theoretical model that shows how the combination between high risk aversion and low initial productivity may hinder family firms’ decision to enter foreign markets, particularly distant ones. The empirical analysis, based on a detailed panel data set of Italian firms covering the years from 1995 to 2003, confirms such predictions by showing that family controlled firms do indeed export less than other type of companies even after controlling for firm heterogeneity in productivity, size, technology and access to credit.

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Paper provided by C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers in its series CEPR Discussion Papers with number 7082.

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Date of creation: Dec 2008
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Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:7082

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Related research
Keywords: exports; family firms; firm structure; foreign markets;

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Find related papers by JEL classification:
F1 - International Economics - - Trade
F14 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Country and Industry Studies of Trade
L2 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior

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References listed on IDEAS
Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.:
  1. William Greene, 2004. "Interpreting Estimated Parameters and Measuring Individual Heterogeneity in Random Coefficient Models," Working Papers 04-08, New York University, Leonard N. Stern School of Business, Department of Economics. [Downloadable!]
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  2. Rafael La Porta & Florencio Lopez-De-Silanes & Andrei Shleifer, 1999. "Corporate Ownership Around the World," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 54(2), pages 471-517, 04. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  3. Luigi Guiso & Giuseppe Parigi, 1999. "Investment And Demand Uncertainty," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, MIT Press, vol. 114(1), pages 185-227, February. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  4. Leech, Dennis & Leahy, John, 1991. "Ownership Structure, Control Type Classifications and the Performance of Large British Companies," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 101(409), pages 1418-37, November. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  5. Tversky, Amos & Kahneman, Daniel, 1991. "Loss Aversion in Riskless Choice: A Reference-Dependent Model," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, MIT Press, vol. 106(4), pages 1039-61, November. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  1. Marco Cucculelli, 2008. "Owner Identity and Firm Performance: Evidence from European Companies," Rivista di Politica Economica, SIPI Spa, vol. 98(2), pages 149-178, March-Apr. [Downloadable!]
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