Call for Research Proposals on Family Businesses in France

The "Family Business and Long-Term Investment" Chair at Université Paris Dauphine - PSL and its Foundation was launched in September 2023 with the support of SEPTODONT, SISLEY, THUASNE, ACCURACY, BNP PARIBAS, BNP Paribas Banque Privée, and FBN France.

Complementing the work undertaken by other Chairs dedicated to family businesses in France and abroad - more focused on governance issues - the "Family Business and Long-Term Investment" Chair intends to adopt a clinical approach based on econometric studies, and thus contribute, by mobilizing the Dauphine ecosystem and its partners in France and abroad, to a better understanding of these businesses and to shedding light on the country's economic policy choices.

The Family Business Chair at University Paris Dauphine - PSL invites qualified researchers to submit proposals proposals for rigorous economic research papers addressing the following key areas:

1. Economic Performance: Evaluate the financial indicators, profitability, growth trajectories, and productivity of family-owned enterprises.
2. Local Economic Impact: Investigate how family businesses influence local economies, including their role in job creation, income distribution, and regional development.
3. Succession Planning: Examine the strategies and challenges associated with leadership and ownership transitions within family businesses spanning multiple generations.
4. Innovation and Adaptation: Assess the ability of family firms to innovate, adapt to changing market dynamics, and leverage their inherent strengths for competitive advantage.
5. Family Business and International Trade: Analyze the involvement of family businesses in international trade, encompassing their participation in global value chains and their impact on trade patterns and policies.

Accepted papers will make valuable contributions to academic discourse and may lead to publication in the Chair's research series.

Offer and Expectations

A total research budget of up to €10,000 will be awarded upon the delivery of a working paper, depending on the qualifications of the lead researcher and the assessment of the proposal. The payment is divided into two parts: 50% at the beginning of the contract, and the remaining 50% is paid upon delivery of the deliverable, subject to approval by the Chair. 
The budget is expected to cover all expenses associated with the conduct of the proposed research, including data collection, research assistance, and other related costs. No budget submission is required. Researchers may also be invited to participate in at least one knowledge-sharing event after payment.

Researcher Responsibilities

All successful research grant applicants will be expected to:

1. Produce a high-quality research paper and for the purpose of high-level academic publication. 
2. Present work in progress at an appropriate venue (as a web seminar) and engage in discussions and feedback sessions with fellow researchers (1/2 day time commitment).
3. Prepare a research brief that combines the key findings from the research paper and the key policy lessons, focusing on specific or policy-relevant recommendations that could be taken forward through a further phase of work.
4. Participate in a workshop dialogue after completing the final paper to communicate the potential policy implications and lessons from the research.

Eligibility

Proposals are welcome from individual researchers, research teams, and non-profit organizations. We particularly encourage applications that use French firm-level data or conduct comparative analyses of economic performances between French and other family businesses.

Researcher Responsibilities

Les bénéficiaires d'une subvention de recherche réussie sont tenus de :

1. Produce a high-quality research paper and provide a research brief summarizing key findings and policy recommendations from the research paper.
2. Adhere to ethical guidelines and obtain necessary permissions for data collection and research.
3. Engage in discussions and feedback sessions with fellow researchers.

This call invites researchers to contribute to an enhanced understanding of the role of family businesses in the global economy. 

Proposal Submission Procedure

Projects led by established researchers (holding a Ph.D. and having a track record of publications) are eligible, regardless of nationality, place of work, or field of study. Application submissions can be made directly tofarid.toubal@dauphine.psl.eujusqu'au 15 février 2024 until February 15, 2024, at midnight (Paris time).

Proposals should not exceed five pages of A4 paper in length, excluding the cover page and references. Please use 12-point font, 1.5 line spacing, and standard margins. The proposal should clearly state the research objectives, study design and methods, data sources, and policy relevance.

Each submission will be written in English and should include the following elements:

• Title.
• Abstract (½ page).
• Topic positioning and literature review (1 page).
• Contextual information (Has the project already started? Is it based on specific studies or experiments? etc.) (½ page).
• Methodology and timeline (1 page).
• List of participants (½ page).
• Select bibliography.
• CV of the principal investigator (who should be an established researcher).

Submission of proposals is electronic. 

For any questions regarding the proposal process, please contact farid.toubal@dauphine.psl.eu. All queries and responses will be published on the Chair's announcement page. Selected answers will be updated on a rolling basis.

Project Selection 

Applications will be evaluated by members of the scientific committee and the steering committee of the Chair of Family Businesses. 
The selection criteria include:

• Relevance of the project to the research areas of the project call.
• Scientific excellence of the project.
• Innovative nature of the project.
• Feasibility of the project within reasonable timelines.
• Quality of the team of researchers involved.
• Diversity of approaches and disciplines employed.
• Encourages the consideration of the societal impact of research results.

Calendar

• March 31, 2024, at midnight (Paris time): closing of the call for projects. 
• May 1, 2024: announcement of the selected projects.

Member of the Scientific Committee

• Gilles Chemla: Research Director, CNRS, DRM - University Paris Dauphine-PSL.
• Edith Ginglinger: Co-scientific director of the Chair, Professor at the University Paris Dauphine-PSL.
• Javier Miranda: Professor at Friedrich Schiller University Jena (Germany).
• Gianluca Orefice: Professor at the University of Paris Dauphine-PSL.
• Luc Renneboog: Professor at Tilburg University (Netherlands).
• Farid Toubal: Co-scientific director of the Chair, Professor at the University Paris Dauphine-PSL.

We look forward to receiving innovative research proposals that address the specified themes.