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Crossroads of family business research and firm demography—A critical assessment of family business survival rates

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  • Stamm, Isabell
  • Lubinski, Christina

Abstract

Do family firms rise and decline in three generations? Not only since Thomas Mann's “The Buddenbrooks” has the survival rate of family firms intrigued family business scholars, practitioners and consultants. In this article, we trace the family firm survival rate to its roots and discuss its empirical basis and univocal reading. We then ask how the mortality of family businesses could be measured, and which contextual factors need to be taken into account. To this end we explore the literature on firm demography, a field which is particularly concerned with age and mortality, and identify crossroads with family business studies. We conclude by suggesting a re-conceptualization of survival rates within a larger firm demographic research framework.

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  • Stamm, Isabell & Lubinski, Christina, 2011. "Crossroads of family business research and firm demography—A critical assessment of family business survival rates," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 2(3), pages 117-127.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:fambus:v:2:y:2011:i:3:p:117-127
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jfbs.2011.07.002
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    7. Sven Wolff & Christina Guenther & Petra Moog & David B. Audretsch, 2023. "The geography of the continuum of entrepreneurship activities—a first glance based on German data," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 48(4), pages 1243-1273, August.
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    9. Moritz Belling & Ulrich Pidun & Dodo zu Knyphausen-Aufseß, 2021. "Unbundling Strategic Change in Family Firms: the Influence of Familiness on the Strategic Change Process," Schmalenbach Journal of Business Research, Springer, vol. 73(3), pages 381-411, December.
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    13. Wilson, Shawn R. & Whitmoyer, Jeffrey G. & Pieper, Torsten M. & Astrachan, Joseph H. & Hair, Joseph F. & Sarstedt, Marko, 2014. "Method trends and method needs: Examining methods needed for accelerating the field," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 5(1), pages 4-14.
    14. Paulette Robic & Dominique Barbelivien & Nicolas Antheaume, 2013. "La fabrique de l'entrepreneur familial. Une institutionnalisation du processus de transmission comme facteur de pérennité des entreprises familiales," Working Papers hal-00829947, HAL.
    15. Fabiana Pinto de Almeida Bizarria & Flavia Lorenne Sampaio Barbosa & Fagner Martins Santana & Rogeane Morais Ribeiro & Maria do Socorro Silva Mesquita, 2022. "Contributions to Succession in a Family Business from the Perspective of Global University Entrepreneurial Spirit Students’ Survey (GUESSS)," International Journal of Economics and Finance, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 14(12), pages 1-12, December.
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    17. Mariotti, Sergio & Marzano, Riccardo & Piscitello, Lucia, 2021. "The role of family firms’ generational heterogeneity in the entry mode choice in foreign markets," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 800-812.

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