The impact of new firm formation on regional development in the Netherlands

This paper examines the relationship between new firm formation and regional employment change in The Netherlands. Using a new regional data base for the period 1988–2002, we examine the time lags involved in the relationship. We also investigate whether the relationship differs by sector and by degree of urbanization. We find that the maximum effect of new businesses on regional development is reached after about 6 years. Our results also suggest that the overall employment impact of new-firm start-ups is positive but that the immediate employment effects may be small in The Netherlands. Furthermore, we find that the employment impact of new firms is strongest in manufacturing industries and that the employment impact of new firms is stronger in areas with a higher degree of urbanization.

Practicing fairness in the family business workplace

One of the main challenges facing family firms is achieving fairness between family and non-family employees in the workplace. Family and non-family employees have the potential to offer unique and distinct contributions to the firm, which makes the achievement of fairness between them messy and complicated. Hence, two interesting questions are worth exploring: Given the complex nature of the family business human capital, how can family firms achieve fairness between family and non-family employees? Why should family business decision makers and advisors promote fair practices in the family business workplace? We first introduce a fair process model as a possible solution for family businesses to achieve fairness between family and non-family employees. Then, based on several examples and studies, we show that family business owners can benefit significantly from promoting fairness in the workplace both in terms of preserving business reputation and in terms of achieving long-term family business survival and success.     

东亚经济周期与次区域经济周期存在性检验

东亚经济一体化的迅速发展使“东亚经济周期(EABC)研究”的重要性与紧迫性日趋凸现,本文选取10个代表性国家(地区),以实证方法对1970-2004年东亚经济周期进行了相关性检验和聚类分析;得出东亚经济周期存在,NIEs、ASEANs等次区域经济周期存在,地区性大国经济周期独立性较明显,中国与东亚经济周期关联度逐渐加强等结论,分析结果为东亚经济合作进程中出现的诸多现实议题提供了理论支持。     

The impact of family involvement on the investments of Italian small-medium enterprises in psychically distant countries

In this paper we investigate a sample of 122 Italian manufacturing small to medium-sized family firms, and analyse the effects of the degree of family involvement on their decisions to invest in psychically distant countries. Our findings indicate that higher family involvement tends to correspond to a lower number of foreign direct investments in psychically distant countries. Additionally, the firm’s age has a moderating effect on the relationship between family involvement and investments in psychically distant countries. When we analyse younger firms, family involvement turns out to be negatively associated with these investments, while this relationship is slightly positive when we consider older firms. These results allow us to move beyond family/non family owned comparative studies and provide a more nuanced view of family firm internationalization.     

The role of family management and ownership on semi-globalization pattern of globalization: The case of family business groups

Employing a multi-level with longitudinal concern data analysis this research examines the impact from family management and ownership on semi-globalization pattern of globalization in family business groups from an integrated framework. The results reveal that the more likelihood that the controlling family utilize family management in the subsidiary, and the higher degree of pyramidal ownership in the subsidiary, the more likelihood that the family business group will choose to engage in the host regions. Additionally, family management and pyramidal ownership is positively related with the choice to engage in a higher difference region instead of a lower difference region in family business groups. The theoretical and future research implications of these findings for family enterprises and globalization research are discussed.     

Process in family business internationalisation: The state of the art and ways forward

Although the internationalisation of family businesses (FBs) has received increasing attention in recent years, much remains to be learned about how FB internationalisation unfolds as a process. Our review of 172 empirical studies from the period of 1991–2018 indicates that only 25 studies included both longitudinal data and strong process theorising, even though internationalisation is inherently processual, and FBs are longitudinal in nature. We acknowledge that both variance- and process-based theorising are needed to build an understanding of the FB internationalisation process. We contribute to the field by building an FB internationalisation process model based on a review analysis. Within the model, process-based internationalisation pathways are combined with variance-based capabilities (positive influences) and liabilities (negative influences) that affect internationalisation, with economic and non-economic goals viewed as driving the various internationalisation processes. On the basis of the model, we suggest that future research could adopt more longitudinal and individually focused approaches, as a means to understand the FB internationalisation process in various FBs and contexts, over various time periods, life cycles, and FB generations.     

Greening Goliaths versus emerging Davids — Theorizing about the role of incumbents and new entrants in sustainable entrepreneurship

This paper proposes a model of how incumbents and new entrants engage in sustainable entrepreneurship. We suggest that in the early stages of an industry's sustainability transformation, new entrants (‘Emerging Davids’) are more likely than incumbents to pursue sustainability-related opportunities. Incumbents react to the activities of new entrants by engaging in corporate sustainable entrepreneurship activities. While these ‘Greening Goliaths’ are often less ambitious in their environmental and social goals, they may have a broader reach due to their established market presence. This paper analyses the interplay between ‘Greening Goliaths’ and ‘Emerging Davids’ and theorizes about how it is their compounded impact that promotes the sustainable transformation of industries.     

How can family-owned Mittelstand firms use their unique resources to master the digitalization age? The role of family historical,venture, and collaborative capital

Family-owned Mittelstand firms have often been characterized as Janus-faced, meaning they can have two contrasting sides when it comes to innovation. On one side, they are technology leaders—especially in niche markets. On the other side, they can be slow adopters, deeply rooted in tradition. Digitalization is one of the biggest innovation challenges to firms of all sizes and ownership types. Research and observations in business practice show that while some family-owned Mittelstand firms master digitalization despite limited resources and traditional industries, others lag dangerously behind. So, how can family-owned Mittelstand firms prepare for a digital future, and which familial idiosyncrasies might help them? Based on current observations and interview data, we propose a framework for how these firms can use their unique resources to tackle challenges related to digitalization. To be successful in a digital world, they must leverage their family historical capital, family collaborative capital, and family venture capital. We highlight why and how these capital types should be linked to fully leverage their potential.     

The influences of governance quality on equity-based entry mode choice: The strengthening role of family control

This study examines the possible heterogeneity of governance quality's influence on entry mode decisions made by firms with different degrees of family control. When entering a country with low governance quality, ceding control of the subsidiary in exchange for local partners’ help enables foreign firms to tackle institutional flaws. However, such a motivation diminishes as governance quality increases. This study thus hypothesizes that firms tend to choose WOSs over JVs when entering a host country with high governance quality.Firms controlled by family members, due to concerns regarding the preservation of socioemotional wealth, prefer to maintain high ownership levels of their affiliates. This study thus hypothesizes that firms with a higher degree of family control are even more likely to choose WOSs when entering a country with high governance quality. The results support the hypotheses.     

The sensitivity of compensation to social capital: Family CEOs vs. nonfamily CEOs in the family business groups

This study examines the role of CEO social capital, defined as external directorship ties held by the CEO, in determining family vs. nonfamily CEOs' compensation in a network-based business society and governance system. Using a sample of pooled data of family firms listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TSE) from 2000 to 2002, the empirical results show that CEO social capital is an important determinant in setting nonfamily CEOs' pay level, consistent with the expectation of the contractual governance model. By contrast, as expected by relational governance model, family CEOs' social capital is not incentive-relevant. This study extends the literature on CEO compensation by documenting that in a market where guanxi and connections are considered valuable business tools, corporations will be willing to compensate professional CEOs for the social capital that they bring to the firm.     

区域经贸与生态环境治理的实证研究——青岛市参与东亚合作的相关解释

区域经贸合作与生态环境协调发展是目前我国承接国际产业转移中的焦点问题。青岛作为东亚经贸合作代表性城市,其参与区域经贸合作过程关于生态环境的治理对于我国其他城市具有重要借鉴价值。通过实证考察区域经贸合作对青岛生态环境的影响,理性分析生态环境因素与青岛经贸可持续发展的经济学内涵,发现区域经贸合作与青岛生态环保是可以协调并相互促进的。研究青岛环保投资及生态治理的经验及存在问题,针对性地明确了青岛参与区域经贸合作的优化路径及政策建议。     

Riding the waves of family firm internationalization: A systematic literature review,integrative framework,and research agenda

Despite the proliferation in research efforts, family firm (FF) internationalization scholarship suffers from fragmentation, theoretical limitations, and empirical indeterminacy, leaving important facets unexplored. This article’s purpose is to unpack how this body of research has evolved over time and interfaces international business (IB) theory. We conduct a systematic literature review of relevant theoretical and empirical studies covering the last 30 years of research and comprising 134 articles. Our study contributes to this corpus of knowledge by identifying and discussing four evolutionary waves of FF internationalization research. We further advance an integrative framework that offers a comprehensive understanding of the state-of-the-art as well as promising avenues for future research at the intersection of IB and FFs.     

Internationalization and entrepreneurial orientation of family SMEs: The influence of the family character

Internationalization is an important entrepreneurial strategy for promoting the long-term growth and survivability of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Family involvement in top management teams (TMTs) can explain the heterogeneous behaviors of these firms’ international entrepreneurship process. This paper analyzes the moderating effects of the family’s influence on the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and internationalization with two TMT diversities found only in family firms: the family TMT ratio and generational involvement. An analysis of 191 Spanish family SMEs indicated that entrepreneurial orientation plays a significant role in explaining the degree of internationalization in family firms and that a diversely formed TMT shapes this relationship. A high concentration of family members in managerial positions hinders the international entrepreneurship process. This fact highlights the importance of hiring non-family managers to promote internationalization. The results also reveal that involving multiple generations in decision-making hampers entrepreneurial internationalization, generating control and coordination problems.     

全球主要区域一体化安排下贸易效应的实证分析:1993-2003年

近10年来,区域一体化安排得到快速发展。这些区域一体化安排是全球一体化的铺路石还是绊脚石?本文通过对1993-2003年欧盟(EU)、北美自由贸易区(NAFTA)、东南亚国家联盟(ASEAN)、南方共同市场(MERCOSUR)和安第斯共同体(ANDEAN)5大区域一体化安排下贸易发展的特征及原因进行全面分析,在此基础上提出我国未来区域一体化安排的几点启示。     

基于资源角度的东北区域协作模式研究

采用国家资源环境安全要素综合评价方法,对东北三省和内蒙古东五盟市的资源空间分布状况进行了客观翔实地评价。在此基础上,根据各地区资源的优劣势,从资源合理利用的角度提出了东北区域协调发展的八种协作模式:一体化发展模式、能矿资源接续基地合作模式、人才与技术输入式合作模式、专业化合作模式、特色资源合作模式、旅游资源整合合作模式、生态建设与保护合作模式和对外开放的合作模式。     

利用产业集群优势增强区域竞争力——以湖南长沙、株洲和湘潭三市为例

湖南省长沙、株洲、湘潭三市有着形成产业集群的优势,但由于长株潭一体化过程中的集群战略提出得较晚,一体化的过程相对滞后,在分析长株潭产业集群发展现状的基础上,运用SWOT模型对长株潭区域内产业集群的发展进行了分析,促进长株潭产业集群发展要培植带动产业集群发展的＂龙头企业＂;确定好长株潭优势主导产业;充分发挥政府的规划引导作用;延长产业链,形成有完整相关配套企业的产业集群。     

提升浙江省块状经济出口竞争力的对策研究

块状经济是浙江省的经济特色,是浙江省对外贸易发展的重要因素。提升块状经济的国际竞争力对于促进浙江省对外贸易的持续发展,从而保持浙江省区域经济的稳定发展有着十分重要的作用。本文从浙江省块状经济出口竞争力的现状分析入手,阐述了影响浙江省块状经济出口竞争力发展的一些因素,并提出了相应的对策。     

区域金融的环境效应实证研究

金融活动一方面通过金融机构自身的资源消耗与排放影响环境,另一方面更广泛地通过融资的社会经济资源配置功能间接影响环境,因而金融与环境保护的关系正受到越来越多的关注,并正在逐步形成环境金融的概念。环境与金融发展状况均受到经济、社会发展水平等区域性因素的影响,具有区域性特征,这种区域性特征在区域差异较大的中国表现较为明显。从中国区域视角的实证检验中发现,区域金融发展状况与区域环境质量存在较为显著的关联性,区域环境金融投资尚未对区域环境质量做出显著性贡献,区域间环境金融发展存在较为显著的差异性。     

基于可持续发展的区域出口促进政策机理研究

基于可持续发展的区域出口促进政策机理的研究,结合中国区域出口促进政策的具体实践,深入剖析了符合可持续发展要求的区域外贸出口促进政策的生成机理、基本框架、作用目标和组织保证,提出了区域外贸出口促进政策作为一种公共产品,必须遵循世贸组织规则等六大约束条件。     

The effect of new business formation on regional development over time: the case of Germany

We investigate the effects of new business formation on employment change in German regions. A special focus is on the lag-structure of this effect and on differences between regions. The different phases of the effects of new business formation on regional development are relatively pronounced in agglomerations as well as in regions with a high-level of labor productivity. In low-productivity regions, the overall employment effect of new business formation activity might be negative. The interregional differences indicate that regional factors play an important role.