Under which circumstances do family SMES achieve high growth? A behavioural perspective

High-growth firms contribute disproportionately to the creation of employment, wealth and economic development on a global basis. Yet, knowledge circumstances under which such growth patterns occur is limited, findings with regard small medium sized enterprises (SMEs) are inconclusive. Adopting behavioural agency model, we analyse effect family control related nuances (i.e. degree ownership presence chief executive officer (CEO)) SME growth. Furthermore, argue that type slack resources their availability crucial organisational contingency when investigating high in SMEs. Using sample 39,631 European SMEs over 13-year period, find less likely achieve compared non-family firms; having CEO further reduces this likelihood. Instead, at higher (vs lower) levels ownership, probability achieving increases. high- low-discretion influences these relationships. Our study advances current understanding general, particular.