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Ownership, governance, and internationalization in family firms: a replication and extension

Author

Listed:
  • Francesco Debellis

    (University of Vienna)

  • Michele Pinelli

    (University Ca’ Foscari)

  • Marcel Hülsbeck

    (Witten/Herdecke University
    University of Applied Sciences Munich)

  • Anne Heider

    (Witten/Herdecke University)

Abstract

In one of the most influential studies on family firm internationalization, Sciascia et al. (2012) advance a curvilinear relationship between family ownership and firm internationalization. We replicate their study adopting a three-step approach. First, we use the same measures on a different sample to test the generalizability of their findings. Second, we change the independent variable and hypothesize a negative relationship between family involvement in the board of directors and firm internationalization. Third, we introduce and measure the moderating role of firm age and firm size in this relationship. Our study advances the family firm internationalization literature both theoretically and methodologically. Theoretically, we show that it is not so much family ownership per se, but the influence the family obtains through board directorship that affects the family firm internationalization strategy. In addition, we show that this effect is moderated by firm age and size. Methodologically, our study is an important step forward toward increasingly transparent and replicable family business research.

Suggested Citation

  • Francesco Debellis & Michele Pinelli & Marcel Hülsbeck & Anne Heider, 2023. "Ownership, governance, and internationalization in family firms: a replication and extension," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 61(4), pages 1437-1459, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:sbusec:v:61:y:2023:i:4:d:10.1007_s11187-023-00736-8
    DOI: 10.1007/s11187-023-00736-8
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Family firms; Internationalization; Replication; Board of directors; Firm age; Firm size;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F23 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - Multinational Firms; International Business
    • G30 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - General
    • L26 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Entrepreneurship

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