HELLO THERE! Johan Karlsson – recipient of the Young Researcher Award 2023

He has created a unique database to study family businesses in Sweden. Johan Karlsson, PhD, is now receiving SEK 150 000 for his research on family businesses and barriers to growth.

Congratulations on the award! What does the award mean to you?

– “It is of course an honor and a pleasure that my research is considered worthy of a prize. At the same time, it is an important mark and acknowledgement of the interest in ownership issues in entrepreneurship research. In particular, I think the role of family-owned businesses is an area that is on the rise. And where we need to better understand how their potential can be harnessed to contribute to growth and prosperity in society.

Why do you think you won the award?

– The most important thing, I think, is that I created a complete register of family-owned businesses. This has not been done before, and it has allowed me and my research colleagues to do analysis that has not been done before.

You have focused your research on family businesses, why?

– There was a knowledge gap to fill. At the beginning of my doctoral studies, the objection was often raised that why bother with family businesses as it is a rare phenomenon. Certainly, in Sweden there has been a lot of research on family businesses, not least at the Jönköping International Business School and their Center for Family Enterprise Research (CeFEO). In my thesis, I was able to show the overall role of family businesses in the economy as a whole and that they also make a significant contribution to social development, for example in terms of jobs.

What do you think is the most important thing to highlight from your research on family businesses?

– It is important to bear in mind that family businesses as a group are very heterogeneous. Given this, the motives for entrepreneurship differ. Some have growth ambitions and some do not. At the same time, our analysis shows that there is a difference between those family businesses that grow compared to non-family businesses. Growth in family businesses is usually slower, but more stable over time. People want to have control over the company’s development.

– It is also important for family businesses with non-financial objectives. They want to balance their lives and spend time with their families outside the business.

Based on your research, what advice would you give to policymakers?

– A long-term view! Family businesses take a long-term view of their businesses and therefore the policies that affect them also need to be long-term. Clear rules are needed that run over terms of office regardless of government.

– The motives behind family businesses also need to be taken into account. As independence and control over the development of the family business are key, many do not seek external funding. They do not want to put the company’s fate in someone else’s hands. In this respect, I think that family businesses need to be given the opportunity to reinvest surpluses in the company and thus facilitate organic growth.

What are you doing today?

– This spring I started working as an analyst at the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise while keeping a foot in academia by being an affiliated researcher at CeFEO. The combination gives me the opportunity to continue my research on family businesses and also contribute to the broader development of knowledge about entrepreneurship.

Finally, what will you do with the money?

– It will be saved and become part of the down payment needed when my family and I buy a house in a few years. Then I plan to take my kids to Legoland this summer.

Contact johan.karlsson@svensktnaringliv.se

More about the award
Johan Karlsson is awarded the Young Researcher Award 2023 by the Entrepreneurship Forum. The prize is awarded annually and goes to a researcher who has distinguished himself through his research in entrepreneurship, innovation and small business development.

Read ESBRI article on Johan Karlsson’s thesis:
“Women at the top more common in family businesses”