The Ability and Willingness of Family Firms to Bribe: A Socioemotional Wealth Perspective

Extant research concludes that family firms are less likely to bribe due reputation concerns. However, such conclusions are, a certain extent, inconsistent with the intuition and observation some can be aggressive bribers. This study employs restricted-extended framework of socioemotional wealth model reconcile this inconsistency. We propose management, on one hand, results in preservation willingness; while other an abuse trust between members superior ability hide bribery secrets. Integrating willingness mechanisms leads inverted U-shaped relationship management bribery. Further, firm political connection province-level anti-corruption investigation play moderation role main effect. An empirical analysis Chinese listed from 2006 2017 supports our hypotheses.