Family Firms and Business Families in Cross-Cultural Perspective: Bringing Anthropology Back In

This edited volume provides an anthropological study of family businesses and business families, focusing on comparative cross-cultural approaches. It highlights the need to consider cultural and kinship differences in analyzing these entities and offers new insights into the connections between family, kinship, and economic activity across different cultures.

Format: Hardback
Length: 318 pages
Publication date: 14 February 2023
Publisher: Springer International Publishing AG

This edited volume presents a comprehensive anthropological exploration of family businesses and business families, a field that has previously received limited attention within the realm of comparative cross-cultural research. In previous studies on family firms and business families, the comparative cross-cultural approach of anthropology has been largely overlooked, leading to inadequate consideration of cultural and kinship differences in these analyses. Similarly, while kinship and the economy are fundamental topics in anthropological inquiry, research on family firms and business families has remained a marginal field, lacking in-depth discussions within the discipline.

To address these gaps, this volume offers groundbreaking empirical and theoretical insights into the discussion of business families and family firms from a comparative cross-cultural perspective. It begins by examining how the concept of the business family can vary across different cultures and how kinship can be understood as a dynamic process that unfolds through various practices and rituals. The book provides a systematic comparison of the interconnections between family, kinship, and economic activities across diverse cultures, a departure from previous studies that have primarily focused on single regions or cultures. Furthermore, it highlights the complexities and challenges involved in grounding the analysis of economic activity and entrepreneurship within cultural contexts.

By delving into these topics, this edited volume contributes to a deeper understanding of the dynamics and complexities of family businesses and business families across cultures. It provides valuable insights for scholars, researchers, and practitioners interested in exploring the intersection of family, kinship, and economic systems, as well as the broader social and cultural implications of these organizations.

Weight: 565g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783031205248
Edition number: 1st ed. 2023