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Inheritance Law and Investment in Family Firms

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  • Panunzi, Fausto
  • Ellul, Andrew
  • Pagano, Marco

Abstract

Entrepreneurs may be constrained by the law to bequeath a minimal stake to non-controlling heirs. The size of this stake can reduce investment in family firms, by reducing the future income they can pledge to external financiers. Using a purpose-built indicator of the permissiveness of inheritance law and data for 10,245 firms from 32 countries over the 1990-2006 interval, we find that stricter inheritance law is associated with lower investment in family firms, while it leaves investment unaffected in non-family firms. Moreover, as predicted by the model, inheritance law affects investment only in family firms that experience a succession.

Suggested Citation

  • Panunzi, Fausto & Ellul, Andrew & Pagano, Marco, 2009. "Inheritance Law and Investment in Family Firms," Sustainable Development Papers 50330, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (FEEM).
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:feemdp:50330
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.50330
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    Keywords

    Financial Economics;

    JEL classification:

    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill

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