From founder to next generation: A bibliometric analysis of family business succession research (1988–2024)

Abstract

This study offers a comprehensive bibliometric overview of research on succession in family businesses, aiming to evaluate existing scholarship, identify dominant trends, and suggest future research directions. Using the Bibliometrix R package and its Biblioshiny interface, 379 Scopus-indexed journal articles published between 1988 and 2024 were analyzed through performance metrics, keyword co-occurrence networks, collaboration patterns, and thematic mapping. The results show substantial growth in succession research over time, with the United States, China, and the United Kingdom leading contributions. Core themes emphasize succession planning, socioemotional wealth, intergenerational transfer, and governance structures, while emerging areas such as innovation, institutional contexts, and small family firms signal expanding research frontiers. Gaps persist in developing-economy contexts, gender perspectives, and digital transformation in succession processes. This study’s originality lies in its wide temporal and geographical coverage and in applying bibliometric methods to clarify the intellectual structure and evolution of the field. By synthesizing key works, it highlights fragmentation yet reveals converging interests in sustainability, governance, and innovation, providing a foundation for scholars and practitioners to guide future inquiry on family business succession..