International Strategic Alliances and the Internationalization Process: The Family Ownership Effect

Abstract

This study examines whether the ownership structure of Italian firms affects the internationalization process of firms that completed equity international strategic alliances (EISA). This paper provides a comparison of the internationalization intensity, the internationalization commitment, the choice of country and the growth of organisation between family businesses and non-family businesses. Financial data of Italian firms that completed an EISA between 2003 and 2006 were used. The analysis of data shows that family ownership has an effect on the internationalization intensity. In fact, family businesses are more internationalised than non-family businesses if firms have completed an equity international strategic alliance.