Governance in Family Firms

The interplay between the family, family business, and private wealth management via family offices necessitates synchronized and carefully developed governance mechanisms.

Within this field of research, we investigate the governance challenges arising at the intersection between the family, family business, and the family office, as well as the governance challenges emerging within each single system.

Selected Publications

Gaska, M. & Zellweger, T. (2015). Agency Costs in Family Offices: A fresh look at a secretive organization. St.Gallen: Center for Family Business der Universität St.Gallen.

Zellweger, T. & Kammerlander, N. (2015). Family, Wealth, and Governance - An Agency Account. In: Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 39 (6), 1281-1303, DOI: 10.1111/etap.12182.

Zellweger, T. & Kammerlander, N. (2014). Family Business Groups in Deutschland: Generationenübergreifendes Unternehmertum in grossen deutschen Unternehmerdynastien. St.Gallen: Center for Family Business der Universität St.Gallen.

Please also visit the website of the Global Family Business Index, showing the relevance and the economic power of family firms using the example of the world’s 500 largest family businesses.