Family Business Ethics: A Literature Review and Research Agenda

Marcos Ferasso (), Tatiana Beliaeva (), Sascha Kraus (), Paul Jones () and Tobias Gössling ()
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Marcos Ferasso: Universidade Lusófona
Tatiana Beliaeva: UCLy (Lyon Catholic University)
Sascha Kraus: Free University of Bozen-Bolzano
Paul Jones: Swansea University
Tobias Gössling: KEDGE Business School

Journal of Business Ethics, 2025, vol. 202, issue 1, No 8, 159 pages

Abstract: Abstract Ethical issues in family businesses become increasingly relevant for businesses, societies and, consequently, organization scholars which manifests in a growing number of publications in the field over the years. Considerable knowledge generated in the area needs to be systematically structured and synthesized. This study reviewed 162 articles published over the last three decades (1989–2023) to map the intellectual and conceptual structure, and future research opportunities in the family business ethics field. Co-citation analysis highlighted four main groups of scholars influencing the field. The bibliographic coupling distinguished five thematic clusters: succession, religion and goodwill, entrepreneurship and innovation, ethical dilemmas, and values and ethical behavior. Sentiment analysis revealed that scholars explored more positive than negative terms associated with family business ethics. Finally, co-occurrence network analysis suggested the emerging keywords and potential research questions, organized into five research themes, for further development of the family business ethics field.

Keywords: Family business; Ethics; Family business ethics; Bibliometric analysis; Sentiment analysis; Network analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1007/s10551-025-05951-9

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