Ownership, productivity and firms´ life-cycle

Abstract

Empirical evidence on productivity differences between family owned and non-family owned firms is still sparse and reveals conflicting results. Unlike previous studies, we analyse the effect firm´s life cycle on productivity using a large sample of non-listed firms. Furthermore, we consider a model with heterogeneity of inputs between the two types of firms and addressing possible endogeneity problems. We conclude that there are no significant differences in productivity between family and non-family firms, for both startup/growth and mature stages of life cycle.  Furthermore, labour seems to be the  main determinant of family firms’ productivity, which  is especially evident for firms in the mature stage.