Internationalisation and family and non-family governance of businesses in developing countries: A comparative study in Egypt, Madagascar, Morocco and Turkey

Exporting by a business is influenced by its organisational characteristics. Specifically, exporting may differ between family and nonfamily businesses. Exporting is also influenced by context and varies among countries; the difference in exporting between family and non-family businesses may differ among countries. Accordingly, our questions are: how does export differ between family and non-family businesses in developing countries, and how do developing contexts moderate the effects of family vs. non-family governance upon exporting? (1) A representative sample of 3726 firms in Egypt, Madagascar, Morocco and Turkey has been surveyed for the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor. (2) In Egypt, Madagascar and Turkey, family governance does not affect firms' exporting; however, Moroccan family businesses export more than Moroccan non-family counterparts. Thus, the institutional context in Morocco is especially conducive for exporting by family businesses. (3) These findings contribute to understanding how family and non-family businesses differ in exporting, moderated by developing contexts.