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Family Control, Socioemotional Wealth, and Governance Environment: The Case of Bribes

Author

Listed:
  • Shujun Ding

    (University of Ottawa)

  • Baozhi Qu

    (China Merchants Group, and University of International Business and Economics)

  • Zhenyu Wu

    (University of Manitoba)

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between family control and young entrepreneurial firm’s bribing behavior around the globe. Relying on over 2,000 young firms from the World Bank Environment Survey, we find that family control helps to reduce a firm’s bribery behavior, but further investigation shows that this effect only exists in countries with weaker macro-governance environment. In countries with more established and transparent governance mechanism, family control does not seem to make any difference. We interpret our findings as the business family’s preservation of socioemotional wealth.

Suggested Citation

  • Shujun Ding & Baozhi Qu & Zhenyu Wu, 2016. "Family Control, Socioemotional Wealth, and Governance Environment: The Case of Bribes," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 136(3), pages 639-654, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:136:y:2016:i:3:d:10.1007_s10551-015-2538-z
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-015-2538-z
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    Cited by:

    1. Jacoby, Gady & Liu, Mingzhi & Wang, Yefeng & Wu, Zhenyu & Zhang, Ying, 2019. "Corporate governance, external control, and environmental information transparency: Evidence from emerging markets," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 269-283.
    2. Marleen Dieleman & Juliette Koning, 2020. "Articulating Values Through Identity Work: Advancing Family Business Ethics Research," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 163(4), pages 675-687, May.
    3. James J. Cordeiro & Ambra Galeazzo & Tara Shankar Shaw, 2023. "The CSR–CFP relationship in the presence of institutional voids and the moderating role of family ownership," Asian Business & Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 22(1), pages 137-163, February.
    4. Stephen J. Smulowitz & Didier Cossin & Alfredo De Massis & Hongze (Abraham) Lu, 2023. "Wrongdoing in Publicly Listed Family- and Nonfamily-Owned Firms: A Behavioral Perspective," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 47(4), pages 1233-1264, July.
    5. Nam Hoang Vu & Tram-Anh Nguyen & Tram Bao Hoang & Nguyen Viet Cuong, 2024. "Formal Firms with Bribery in a Dynamic Business Environment," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 191(3), pages 571-589, May.
    6. Kimberly A. Eddleston & Jay P. Mulki, 2021. "Differences in Family-Owned SMEs’ Ethical Behavior: A Mixed Gamble Perspective of Family Firm Tax Evasion," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 45(4), pages 767-791, July.
    7. Shisong Jiang & Yijie Min, 2023. "The Ability and Willingness of Family Firms to Bribe: A Socioemotional Wealth Perspective," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 184(1), pages 237-254, April.
    8. Vijay S. Sampath & Noushi Rahman, 2019. "Bribery in MNEs: The Dynamics of Corruption Culture Distance and Organizational Distance to Core Values," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 159(3), pages 817-835, October.
    9. Sun, Yuying & Wu, Zhenyu, 2024. "Reputational risk and firm performance: Family versus nonfamily firms in different regulatory environments," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    10. Nhat Minh Tran & Thu Thuy Nguyen & Thi Phuong Linh Nguyen & Anh Trong Vu & Thi Thanh Hoa Phan & Thi Hong Tham Nguyen & Ngoc Diep Do & Anh Tuan Phan, 2022. "Female Managers and Corruption in SMEs: A Comparison Between Family and Nonfamily SMEs in Vietnam," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(1), pages 21582440221, March.
    11. Kowalik, Elena, 2023. "Ethical Problems in Family Firms," Junior Management Science (JUMS), Junior Management Science e. V., vol. 8(2), pages 431-452.
    12. Laura Broccardo & Elisa Truant & Adrian Zicari, 2019. "Internal corporate sustainability drivers: What evidence from family firms? A literature review and research agenda," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 26(1), pages 1-18, January.
    13. Mark Kohlbeck & Hye Seung (Grace) Lee & Brian Mayhew & Jesus M. Salas, 2023. "Do related party transactions affect family firm valuations?," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 50(9-10), pages 1984-2020, October.
    14. Ivan Miroshnychenko & Alfredo De Massis & Danny Miller & Roberto Barontini, 2021. "Family Business Growth Around the World," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 45(4), pages 682-708, July.
    15. Bornhausen, Anna Maria, 2022. "Conceptualizing cross-country analyses of family firms: A systematic review and future research agenda," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(4).
    16. Ada Domańska & Ewa Więcek-Janka & Robert Zajkowski, 2022. "Implementing Sustainable Development Concept: A Typology of Family Firms in Poland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-21, April.
    17. Xuan He & Weicheng Xiao & Qiang Liang, 2024. "Coexisting with the national will: state logic and intrafamily succession," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 63(2), pages 713-730, August.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Bribe; Family control; New entrepreneurial firms; Governance environment; Socioemotional wealth;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G34 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Mergers; Acquisitions; Restructuring; Corporate Governance
    • L20 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - General
    • L26 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Entrepreneurship
    • K42 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law

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