Title: Family-owned businesses: perspectives on Australian policy

Authors: Linda Glassop, Chris Graves

Addresses: School of Management and Marketing, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, Victoria 3125, Australia. ' The University of Adelaide Business School, 10 Pulteney Street, Adelaide SA 5005, Australia

Abstract: In 2008, a report was commissioned by the European Commission (EC) outlining various policy matters in the field of family business within the auspices of the European Union (EU). Family-owned businesses make a significant contribution to Australia|s economic and social welfare. The EC report offers a template for examining family business issues relevant to Australia in seven key areas: political awareness, intergenerational business transfer, financial obligations, balancing business and family, lack of specific education, access to finance for growth and maintaining a skilled workforce. We find that Australian family business policy does not differ markedly to that of Europe. Several policy recommendations are outlined to enhance the recognition of, and provide support to, Australian family-owned businesses.

Keywords: government policies; taxation; governance; business education; Australia; European Commission; EC; European Union; EU; economy; social welfare; political awareness; intergenerational business transfers; financial obligations; work-life balance; business finance; growth; skilled workforces; Europe; business support; Irene Mandl; management practice; family businesses.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMP.2010.036831

International Journal of Management Practice, 2010 Vol.4 No.3, pp.293 - 305

Published online: 11 Nov 2010 *

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