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Influence of Family Involvement on Family Firm Internationalization: The Moderating Effects of Industrial and Institutional Environments

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  • Lixin Zhou

    (Research Center for the Economy of the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River, Chongqing Technology and Business University, Chongqing 400067, China)

  • Yan Han

    (School of Management, Chongqing Technology and Business University, Chongqing 400067, China)

  • Chaoli Gou

    (School of Marxism, Chongqing Technology and Business University, Chongqing 400067, China)

Abstract

This paper aimed to explore the effects of family ownership and management on Chinese family firm internationalization, and to examine the moderating effects of environmental munificence, institutional environment, and political ties in this relationship. A questionnaire survey of 274 family firms in 8 provinces or municipalities in China was conducted to test the proposed hypotheses empirically. The results were as follows: First, family ownership and management positively impacted the depth and breadth of internationalization. Second, environmental munificence weakened the effect of family ownership on the depth of internationalization, as well as on the effect of family management on the breadth of internationalization, but intensified the effect of family management on the depth of internationalization. Third, the institutional environment intensified the effects of family management on the depth and breadth of internationalization. Finally, political ties weakened the effect of family management on the depth of internationalization, but intensified the effect of family ownership on the breadth of internationalization. The contributions and implications of this study are also discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Lixin Zhou & Yan Han & Chaoli Gou, 2019. "Influence of Family Involvement on Family Firm Internationalization: The Moderating Effects of Industrial and Institutional Environments," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(20), pages 1-17, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:20:p:5721-:d:277047
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    1. Shilei Hu & Xiaohong Wang, 2021. "The Origin of Proactive Environmental Corporate Social Responsibility (ECSR) of Large Firms: Institutional Embeddedness—Driven, Family Involvement-Promoted, or Resource-Dependent?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-23, January.
    2. Alfredo Jimenez & Jeoung Yul Lee & Xavier Ordeñana, 2021. "Introduction: FDI and Institutional Quality: New Insights and Future Perspectives from Emerging and Advanced Economies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-4, April.

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