In contrast, there is an emerging view that
founding-family ownership also has advantages and
may create value for firms. Family firms are widely
recognized as a major source of technological
innovation and entrepreneurial activities (Astrachan
et al. 2003; Zahra 2005). In addition, family firms
have a longer business horizon and are less likely to
suffer from managerial myopia of forgoing good
investment opportunities to boost current earnings
(James 1999; Stein 1989). Moreover, the long-term
nature of founding-family ownership implies that
founding families have a great concern for quality,
and they tend to maintain long-lasting ties with
employees, suppliers, and buyers. Anderson and Reeb
(2003) report that one consequence of a family
maintaining a long-term presence is that the firm willenjoy a lower cost of debt financing than that of
nonfamily firms. The interlocking family ties also
enhance personal relations and trust, reduce transactional
uncertainties, and contribute to the success of
family business networks in many economic institutions
(Weidenbaum and Hughes 1996). Empirical
studies of Anderson and Reeb (2003), Burkart et al.
(2003), McConaughy et al. (1998), and Morck et al.
(1988) report that founding-family ownership positively
influences firm performance.