Family firm heterogeneity and patenting. Revising the role of size and age
研究了企业规模和年龄如何调节家族所有权与创新（以专利申请衡量）之间的关系，发现家族企业在小型年轻或大型成熟时表现较差，而其他类型差异不显著。
Abstract This study offers a comprehensive framework for evaluating the moderating effects of size and age on the relationship between family ownership and innovation. The research hypotheses are tested on a large sample of Italian firms observed over the 2010–2017 period using a zero-inflated nonlinear count model. To refine the understanding of firm heterogeneity, we employ a three-way interaction approach. Results show that the patenting gap between FFs and non-FFs is sensitive to size and age. Compared to non-FFs, FFs underperform when they are small and young, or large and mature, with no substantial differences seen in other types of firms. By referring to the Socioemotional Wealth theory, we find that the founder effect, which differs over a firm’s life, is behind a good deal of these findings.