Global Trends in Family Business Research: A Bibliometric Analysis

Abstract

The significance of family business in global economic development is well recognized in literature. As a result, numerous academic works on this topic have been published in prestigious journals, highlighting the importance of studying the development and evolution of family businesses. In this regard, the present study conducts a bibliometric analysis of the literature on family businesses to reveal research trends and provide guidance for researchers. The analysis encompasses all papers published in Scopus between 2002 and 2021. The findings of this study demonstrate several noteworthy contributions. Firstly, there has been a substantial increase in the volume of publications focusing on family businesses, indicating a growing interest in this area of research. Secondly, the majority of contributions originate from the United States, highlighting the country’s prominence in the study of family businesses. Thirdly, the study identifies Astrachan J. H. and Danes S. M. as the most influential authors in the field, recognizing their significant contributions. Fourthly, it determines that the most influential journal in this domain is the Family Business Review, which underscores its importance as a platform for scholarly discourse. Lastly, the study highlights a highly cited paper titled ‘An Overview of the Field of Family Business Studies: Current Status and Directions for the Future,’ authored by Sharma P., which provides a comprehensive understanding of the subject. These insights collectively shed light on the current state of family business research and offer valuable directions for future exploration.

Keywords: Family Business, Bibliometric Analysis, Altmetric Analysis, Scopus, Citations, Social Attention

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