This thesis investigates corporate governance in family firms, with emphasis on industry and industry networks. Focus is on the governance structures in family firms, how industry and networks may be determinants of family ownership, and the effect of family ownership and strong industry networks on financial performance. The overall discussion is how to disentangle some of the contextual factors affecting both the family ownership and the relationship between family ownership and performance.

The analyses of family ownership and performance should include the agency context in which firms operate, and industry networks can be regarded as a part of the business environment. The Norwegian maritime industry is characterized by both family ownership and strong industry networks and has therefore been selected for this study.

Supervisor:
Steen Thomsen
Department of International Economics and Management
Copenhagen Business School

Assessment Committee:
Professor Caspar Rose (chair)
Department of International Economics and Management
Copenhagen Business School

Professor Martin Holmén
Department of Economics
Uppsala University
Sweden

Professor Hans van Ees
Department of International Economics & Business
University of Groningen
The Netherlands

After the defense there will be a small reception at the Department of International Economics and Management, Porcelænshaven 24A, at the 2nd floor common area. You are welcome to join us for a glass of wine and a light refreshment.