Family businesses in Germany and Italy
More similarities than differences
Family businesses in other European countries face the same challenges with regard to the Brussels requirements as German family businesses. The Family Business Foundation is therefore taking a closer look at European family businesses. In the study “Family Businesses in Germany and Italy”, ZEW researched the fact that Italy and Germany have a very similar economic structure: There is a lot of manufacturing, often export-oriented.
In Italy (according to the ZEW definition) 87 per cent of all companies are family businesses, while in Germany that figure is 78 per cent. They account for 56 per cent of employment in Italy and 42 per cent in Germany.
Of the companies with five to nine employees in Italy, 92 per cent are family-run, compared to 86 per cent in Germany. In the construction industry in particular, 93 per cent of companies in both Italy and Germany are family-run.
However, Italian family businesses are smaller. Almost 58 per cent of family-controlled companies based in Italy have fewer than ten employees, compared to roughly 40 per cent in Germany. Germany’s strength lies in its large family businesses, the hidden champions.
Related materials
Related publications
-
-
Dual Apprenticeship and Continuing Vocational Education and Training in Central and Eastern Europe
Opportunities and Obstacles for German Family Businesses
Study 01.02.23 -
European Trade Policy at the Service of Geopolitics?
Requirements for New instruments from the Perspective of Family Businesses
Study 11.04.22 -
Burdens arising from the transparency register
Regulatory and financial burdens of EU legislation in four Member States – a comparative study – Vol. 3
Study 22.03.23 -
Burdens araising from the General Data Protection Regulation
Regulatory and financial burdens of EU legislation in four Member States – a comparative study – Vol. 4
Study 16.06.23 -
Sustainability-Reporting under the CSRD: Standard Setting and its Conformity with EU Law
Study 26.04.22 -
From tax competition to coordinated global corporate taxation
Trends, prospects and effects of tax burdens
Study 21.03.23
-
Related News
-
-
Family businesses in Germany and Italy – a comparison
Both countries have a very high proportion of family businesses
Research results 22.11.23 -
Family businesses are better at weathering crises
The top 500 hired employees even during
Research results 04.01.23 -
Overcoming crises for centuries
Germany’s 50 oldest family businesses*
From the foundation 13.12.21 -
Listed family businesses are more successful
Study of 17 countries shows founding families exert a crucial influence
Research results 20.07.22 -
Study highlights potential for investment in vocational education and training in Eastern Europe
Opportunity for family businesses in the battle for talent
Research results 01.02.23 -
Six theories for reducing the costs of bureaucracy in Europe
Example 4: Data protection requirements cause unnecessary cost and effort
Research results 13.06.23 -
National differences make transparency register burdensome
A lot of effort, especially for family businesses
Research results 22.03.23 -
States must dismantle trade barriers
2021: record number of protectionist measures
Research results 11.04.22 -
Family businesses further along than expected with regard to climate action
Equity financiers also need clear signals and incentives
Research results 14.11.21
-
