Family Firms in the Netherlands: Outdated and Secretive, or Resilient and Sustainable?

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Using the Varieties of Capitalism framework, this chapter explores how changes in narratives about family businesses in Dutch Newspapers can be connected to more general changes in the organisation of the Dutch economy. In the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, family firms were predominantly reported on as outdated and unprofessional. From the 1980s onwards, the resilience of family firms in the face of economic downturns was underlined. Today, family firms are depicted as thinking in generations and therefore acting socially responsible and sustainable. This shift in narratives coincided with a transformation of the Dutch economy from a coordinated market economy (CME) during the 1950s and 1960s towards a more liberal market economy (LME) after the 1990s. Although at first glance, the family firm fits best with the characteristics of a CME, contemporaries were nevertheless highly critical of these companies. With the shift towards an LME and its emphasis on individual entrepreneurship and charismatic leadership, family firms with their individual leadership and sometimes colourful figures at the top were well placed to draw positive attention. Concerted lobby efforts by organised family firms and consultants moreover stimulated positive narratives on family businesses from the 1990s onwards.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationGlobal Family Capitalism
Subtitle of host publicationa Business History Perspective
PublisherTaylor and Francis
Pages63-79
Number of pages17
ISBN (Electronic)9781040271742
ISBN (Print)9781032478494
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 23 Dec 2024

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 selection and editorial matter, Paloma Fernández Pérez; individual chapters, the contributors.

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