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The innovation of family firms in China: New evidence from the China employer-employee survey

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  • Li, Qing
  • Hu, Dezhuang
  • Li, Tang

Abstract

Drawing on China Employer-Employee Survey data collected in 2018, this study examines the effects of family ownership on firm innovation in China. Baseline regressions suggest that Chinese family firms have significantly lower R&D investment and number of patents than non-family firms, and the results are not sensitive to response quality, unobserved characteristics, and non-random assignment of family ownership. Furthermore, this gap can be effectively explained by the lower management quality of family firms. Heterogeneous analyses indicate that the low innovation of family firms appears only in more competitive environments. To improve innovation, we suggest that Chinese family firms should make increased efforts to upgrade their management.

Suggested Citation

  • Li, Qing & Hu, Dezhuang & Li, Tang, 2022. "The innovation of family firms in China: New evidence from the China employer-employee survey," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:chieco:v:72:y:2022:i:c:s1043951x22000128
    DOI: 10.1016/j.chieco.2022.101754
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    2. Cheng, Chen & Li, Wanrong & Liu, Guanchun & Liu, Yuanyuan, 2023. "Origin matters: Institutional imprinting and family firm innovation in China," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 55(C).
    3. Ren, Ting & Liu, Xin & Ding, Jinqiong, 2023. "Intergenerational dynamics of digital transformation in family firms," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Family ownership; Firm innovation; China employer-employee survey; Management quality;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D21 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Firm Behavior: Theory
    • O32 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Management of Technological Innovation and R&D
    • O53 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Asia including Middle East
    • L29 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Other

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