Internationalization of family businesses: a theoretical model based on international entrepreneurship perspective

Abstract

Family Businesses account for a high percentage of fi rms in today’s economy. One of the main problems fi rms have to face is the rise in the number and diversity of competitors. In this paper, we propose a global model designed to provide an understanding of the international entrepreneurship of family businesses, departing from an analysis of the theoretical contributions of two separate trends: International Entrepreneurship and the study of family businesses. This model is contrasted by the study of six cases of multinational family businesses throughout their lifetime. Two main elements stand out as determinants of international entrepreneurship for this type of fi rm: knowledge and family commitment. In addition to these two factors, the model includes other internal and external contingent variables.