Unpacking socio-emotional wealth: exploring the origins of affective endowment in founder firms

Bövers J, Hoon C. Unpacking socio-emotional wealth: exploring the origins of affective endowment in founder firms. International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business. 2020;40(1):32-53.This article aims to further clarify the socio-emotional wealth (SEW) construct. By conducting a qualitative study, we examine the roots of emotional endowment and personal SEW. The results of the case study involving 13 founding firms indicate that SEW develops in the early stages of a business' life cycle. The study revealed two types of personal SEW priorities, namely achievement-related priorities and ties-related priorities. We propose that these different types of SEW priorities constitute a good predictor for explaining the transition of a founder firm into a family firm. This article contributes both to the research on SEW and on intergenerational intention by combining them in a unique way