The Survival of Family Farms: Socioemotional Wealth (SEW) and Factors Affecting Intention to Continue the Business

This article addresses the problem of succession in family farms in a context of generational change. Family businesses are characterized by their long-term orientation and by having a positive effect through environmental goals that remain in place generation after generation. The general increase...

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Main Authors: Manel Plana-Farran, José Luis Gallizo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-06-01
Series:Agriculture
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/11/6/520
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author Manel Plana-Farran
José Luis Gallizo
author_facet Manel Plana-Farran
José Luis Gallizo
author_sort Manel Plana-Farran
collection DOAJ
description This article addresses the problem of succession in family farms in a context of generational change. Family businesses are characterized by their long-term orientation and by having a positive effect through environmental goals that remain in place generation after generation. The general increase in average age among farmers is seen as a barrier to more sustainable land use, and the survival of family farming therefore depends on the availability of a successor in the family. Socioemotional wealth (hereafter, SEW) is understood as the affective endowment of family members. This study adopts the SEW dimensions conceptually validated to analyse the effects of psychological and socioeconomic factors on potential successors’ intentions. The results of a survey administered to students attending agricultural schools in Catalonia show that intentions to assume the management and ownership of the family farm increase in line with individuals’ interest in creating their own business, their ability to take over the farm, and their emotional inclination to continue the family legacy. In addition, SEW was measured in relation to the potential successor and not the incumbent, as has typically been the case in previous work, bringing this important research subject as a principal actor. Finally, an empirical validation of a short FIBER scale, i.e., REI scale, was obtained that relates individuals’ intentions to succeed the family farm to the socioemotional wealth of business families, testing suitability of the REI scale as a measure of intention to succeed.
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spelling doaj.art-cdee2f56fd714f8dae7ed051d507cce82023-11-21T22:39:47ZengMDPI AGAgriculture2077-04722021-06-0111652010.3390/agriculture11060520The Survival of Family Farms: Socioemotional Wealth (SEW) and Factors Affecting Intention to Continue the BusinessManel Plana-Farran0José Luis Gallizo1Faculty of Law, Economics and Tourism, Universitat de Lleida, 25001 Lleida, SpainFaculty of Law, Economics and Tourism, Universitat de Lleida, 25001 Lleida, SpainThis article addresses the problem of succession in family farms in a context of generational change. Family businesses are characterized by their long-term orientation and by having a positive effect through environmental goals that remain in place generation after generation. The general increase in average age among farmers is seen as a barrier to more sustainable land use, and the survival of family farming therefore depends on the availability of a successor in the family. Socioemotional wealth (hereafter, SEW) is understood as the affective endowment of family members. This study adopts the SEW dimensions conceptually validated to analyse the effects of psychological and socioeconomic factors on potential successors’ intentions. The results of a survey administered to students attending agricultural schools in Catalonia show that intentions to assume the management and ownership of the family farm increase in line with individuals’ interest in creating their own business, their ability to take over the farm, and their emotional inclination to continue the family legacy. In addition, SEW was measured in relation to the potential successor and not the incumbent, as has typically been the case in previous work, bringing this important research subject as a principal actor. Finally, an empirical validation of a short FIBER scale, i.e., REI scale, was obtained that relates individuals’ intentions to succeed the family farm to the socioemotional wealth of business families, testing suitability of the REI scale as a measure of intention to succeed.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/11/6/520family farmssuccessioncontinuitysocioemotional wealth
spellingShingle Manel Plana-Farran
José Luis Gallizo
The Survival of Family Farms: Socioemotional Wealth (SEW) and Factors Affecting Intention to Continue the Business
Agriculture
family farms
succession
continuity
socioemotional wealth
title The Survival of Family Farms: Socioemotional Wealth (SEW) and Factors Affecting Intention to Continue the Business
title_full The Survival of Family Farms: Socioemotional Wealth (SEW) and Factors Affecting Intention to Continue the Business
title_fullStr The Survival of Family Farms: Socioemotional Wealth (SEW) and Factors Affecting Intention to Continue the Business
title_full_unstemmed The Survival of Family Farms: Socioemotional Wealth (SEW) and Factors Affecting Intention to Continue the Business
title_short The Survival of Family Farms: Socioemotional Wealth (SEW) and Factors Affecting Intention to Continue the Business
title_sort survival of family farms socioemotional wealth sew and factors affecting intention to continue the business
topic family farms
succession
continuity
socioemotional wealth
url https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/11/6/520
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