Family firms and internationalization: An exploratory study on high-tech entrepreneurial ventures

Evila Piva (), Cristina Rossi-Lamastra () and Alfredo De Massis ()

Journal of International Entrepreneurship, 2013, vol. 11, issue 2, 108-129

Abstract: This paper empirically explores a highly relevant, although poorly investigated topic: internationalization of family firms that operate in high-tech industries. Specifically, we compare internationalization of family and nonfamily entrepreneurial ventures in these industries. Relying on prior studies on internationalization of family firms, we speculate on how the specificities of high-tech industries shape the advantages and disadvantages of family entrepreneurial ventures in pursuing internationalization as compared with their nonfamily peers. In the empirical part of the paper, through a rigorous quantitative analysis of unique data from 264 Italian high-tech entrepreneurial ventures, we explore whether in high-tech industries family entrepreneurial ventures are more (or less) likely to pursue internationalization than their nonfamily counterparts. Surprisingly enough, our econometric estimates indicate that, in high-tech industries, family entrepreneurial ventures exhibit a higher internationalization propensity than their nonfamily peers. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media New York 2013

Keywords: Family business; Family firms; Internationalization; International entrepreneurship; High-tech (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (11)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:kap:jinten:v:11:y:2013:i:2:p:108-129

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DOI: 10.1007/s10843-012-0100-y

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