Studies, Topic: Family businesses Investment Climate, the Single Market and Bureaucracy in Europe from the Perspective of (Family) Businesses The study examines the European Union’s competitiveness and attractiveness to investors from a business perspective. It is based on a survey of 2,101 business leaders from family-owned and non-family-owned... Read more
Studies, Topic: Family businesses Investitionsklima, Binnenmarkt und Bürokratie in Europa aus Sicht der (Familien-)Unternehmen The study examines the European Union’s competitiveness and attractiveness to investors from a business perspective. It is based on a survey of 2,101 business leaders from family-owned and non-family-owned... Read more
Studies, topic: Succession, family business Die internationale Unternehmerfamilie – Unterschiede und Gemeinsamkeiten in kulturvergleichender Perspektive The research report examines how entrepreneurial families in different cultural contexts ensure the long-term continuity of their businesses. It is based on 143 qualitative interviews with members of entrepreneurial families... Read more
Studies, Subject: Leadership & Business Governance, Shareholder Competence, Succession, Entrepreneurial Family Gesellschafterkompetenz in Unternehmerfamilien – Aktuelle Trends und Entwicklungen In the study „Shareholder Competence in Entrepreneurial Families – Current Trends and Developments“ (2022), Tom A. Rüsen, Ruth Orenstrat and Claudia Binz Astrachan analyse the growing importance of shareholder competence... Read more
Studies, Topic: Family Strategy & Family Governance, Leadership & Business Governance, Succession, Entrepreneurial Families Die Unternehmerfamilie und ihre Familienstrategie – Einblicke in die gelebte Praxis von Family Governance In the study „The Entrepreneurial Family and its Family Strategy – Insights into the Practical Application of Family Governance“, published by the Witten Institute for Family Businesses (2019), Tom A. Rüsen and ... analyse. Read more
Studies, Topic: Family businesses, leadership & corporate governance, entrepreneurial families Familienunternehmertum im Blick – Fragen, die Mitglieder von Familienunternehmen und Unternehmerfamilien aktuell bewegen With the study „A Focus on Family Entrepreneurship“ (2026) by Prof. Dr Tom A. Rüsen, Stephanie Engelmann and Dr Ruth Orenstrat, the WIFU Foundation presents an empirically based review of key issues relating to family... Read more
Studies, Topic: Leadership & Business Governance, Succession, Sustainability The role of legacy in family businesses – an international empirical study In the study „The Role of Legacy in Family Businesses – An International Empirical Investigation“, published by the WIFU Foundation (2025), Matheus Franco and Thomas Clauß examine, on the basis of international... Read more
Studies, Topic: Family businesses, leadership & corporate governance, succession Wirtschaftslage und Finanzierung im Handwerk 2025/26 The study entitled „Economic Situation and Financing in the Skilled Trades Sector 2025/26“ (2026), carried out by Creditreform Economic Research under the direction of Patrik-Ludwig Hantzsch, analyses the economic situation of the German... Read more
Studies, Topic: Leadership & Business Governance, Succession, Entrepreneurial families Modernisierung? Später! Familienunternehmen bleiben bei männlicher Führung The study published by the AllBright Foundation, entitled „Modernisation? Not just yet! Family businesses remain under male leadership“ (2026), edited by Wiebke Ankersen, Christian Berg, Lara Franken, Paula S... Read more
Studies, topic: family businesses, succession, entrepreneurial families Töchter in der Unternehmensnachfolge – Historische Einordnung, aktuelle Trends und Entwicklungen In the study „Daughters in Business Succession“ (2026), Prof. Dr Tom A. Rüsen, Sophia Jungk and Dr Ruth Orenstrat examine how daughters are involved in succession processes in family businesses and what... Read more
Studies, Topic: Leadership & Business Governance, Succession, Entrepreneurial families Nachfolge-Monitoring Mittelstand 2025: Pläne für Geschäftsaufgaben wachsen erneut – Kaufpreisvorstellungen deutlich gestiegen In the KFW Research study „Succession Monitoring for SMEs 2025“, Dr Michael Schwartz analyses the current succession situation among German SMEs. The study shows that, by the end of 2029, around 109,00... Read more
Studies, Topic: Family businesses, sustainability ESG in Family Firms: A Review of Research, Regulations and Practice Guidance This report presents the findings of a comprehensive review of research, regulation, practice and guidelines relating to environmental, social and governance (ESG) activities in British family-owned... Read more
Studies, Topic: Family businesses, succession DIHK-Report Unternehmensnachfolge 2025: Zeit zu handeln – Unternehmensnachfolgen einfacher machen! In its „DIHK Report on Business Succession 2025“, the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce presents a data-driven analysis of the succession situation among German SMEs. The report is based on over 50,000 accounts... Read more
Studies, Topic: Family businesses Das Unternehmerbild im Lehrerzimmer – Ein- und Vorstellungen von Lehrkräften zu Entrepreneurship und Familienunternehmen Entrepreneurial thinking and action are regarded as a key competence in modern societies. They combine economic performance with social responsibility and enable active, reflective participation... Read more
Studies, Topic: Leadership & Business Governance, Succession, Entrepreneurial families Nachfolge-Monitoring Mittelstand 2024: Jedes vierte Unternehmen denkt über Geschäftsaufgabe nach – Alter ist Hauptgrund In the KfW Research paper „SME Succession Monitoring 2024: One in four businesses is considering closing down – age is the main reason“ (2025), Michael Schwartz analyses the current situation regarding business... Read more
