Publications
IfM Bonn publishes its research findings primarily in its publication series: study results are published as "IfM-Materials" - or in condensed form as a "Denkpapier" (summary). Statistical analyses and results appear in the series "Daten und Fakten". Discussion and technical papers from all research areas are published as "Working Papers".
In addition, until 2012 selected articles were published in the series "Schriften zur Mittelstandsforschung" (Gabler Verlag). Under the "External Publications" tab, you find numerous essays by IfM researchers that have appeared in (peer-reviewed) specialist journals and external publication series.
552 Results
Working Papers | 2016 Gender Diversity in Top-Management Positions in Large Family and Nonfamily Businesses
(Why) does the sex ratio in top-management positions in large family and nonfamily businesses differ? Using a unique data set and estimating (fractional) logit regressions we show that the female share in top-management positions in family businesses exceeds the one in nonfamily businesses.
External publication | 2016 Doing business in a globalized world - Family business in Germany
Owner- and family-run companies are considered to be significantly more risk-averse in their business activities than manager-led companies.
External publication | 2016 Destination: self-employment
The number of self-employed people is likely to stagnate in the near future or could even fall in view of demographic change. In order to counter this development, it is necessary to soften the reservations about taking up entrepreneurial activity.
IfM-Materialien | 2016 Mittelstands policy in change
The middle class has been changing for years. In view of a new self-conception in the SME sector, SME policy should therefore also develop further.
IfM-Materialien | 2016 Fast growing companies in Germany: characteristics and determinants of their growth
Based on survey data, this study examines the key characteristics of fast-growing companies with at least 10 employees and the determinants of their growth.
External publication | 2016 Self-administered insolvency proceedings as a means of reorganization
In 2012, the insolvency law was reformed with the aim of increasing the chances of insolvent companies to continue their operations. The "Act to Further Facilitate the Reorganization of Companies" (ESUG) strengthens the "self-administration by the debtor" option by making it easier to apply for and implement the law.
External publication | 2016 A Research Agenda for Entrepreneurship and Context
It is increasingly recognized that entrepreneurship can be better understood if one also looks at the different framework conditions. This book presents the challenges for entrepreneurship research that arise from the wide range of contexts.
External publication | 2016 Digitization yes- Industry 4.0 so far under reservation
Due to scarce resources, SMEs often lack the know-how to assess newer ICT applications in terms of their economic relevance or their chances for new business models.
External publication | 2016 Supporting Women Entrepreneurs in Germany
The report contains an overview of current and planned measures to promote entrepreneurial independence for women in Germany, as well as an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of these measures in the areas of entrepreneurial skills, access to financing, and institutional framework conditions.
External publication | 2016 Entrepreneurs and entrepreneur inside in Germany
For a long time, entrepreneurship was associated with patriarchal families. However, a glance at history shows that you don't have to be born to be an entrepreneur.
Facts and figures | 2016 Information and data sources on the financing structures of medium-sized companies
In the discussion about the financing or equity capitalization of medium-sized companies, the possibilities for borrowing, new forms of financing and thus the changing framework conditions for lending to small and medium-sized companies are currently coming to the fore. In this context, various institutions publish, sometimes regularly, corresponding study results and key figures (reports).
External publication | 2016 Challenges of Industry 4.0 for mittelstand businesses
Despite the high economic potentials associated with Industry 4.0, medium-sized manufacturing companies are still relatively reluctant to approach the topic. In particular, the evaluation of large data streams for the optimization of process flows or for downstream services is hardly used.
IfM-Materialien | 2016 Exploitation of innovations by scientists working at universities
An important pillar of innovation policy is the support of knowledge transfer and the exploitation of marketable inventions from university research. Despite support for the exploitation of knowledge, a large proportion of innovations from research activities at German universities remain unused.
IfM-Materialien | 2016 Attractiveness of young companies for skilled workers
The attractiveness of an employer is not influenced by the age of the company. Of the young companies that have been looking for skilled workers in the past five years, more than half had difficulties in recruiting skilled workers.
Working Papers | 2016 Crucial Skills for the Entrepreneurial Success of Fine Artists
This article aims to define crucial skills for the entrepreneurial success of working fine artists as these skills have not yet been clearly identified for this professional group.
External publication | 2016 Keeping It in The Family: Financial Rewards in Family Firms
Income in entrepreneurial families is characterized by uncertainty regarding the amount and timing of income. In addition, they can be attributed to both the business and the family and cannot be fully recorded, as they include both cash assets and the goods and services that are consumed.
External publication | 2016 SME, medium-sized business, family business: A clarification
It is not the size of a company that determines whether it belongs to a medium-sized company or not.
External publication | 2016 Family Business and Regional Science: Bridging the gap
The paper examines not only the regional role of family enterprises in terms of what family enterprises contribute to regional economic development ...
IfM-Materialien | 2016 Financing structures and strategies for SMEs
The financing environment SMEs is changing. The changes in the economic environment and the associated low interest rate policy as well as the Basel regulations show a clear influence on the financing structures of SMEs.
External publication | 2016 BDI/PwC Mittelstandspanel - autumn 2015
As part of a long-term study on medium-sized industrial companies in Germany, the IfM Bonn surveyed a fixed group of industrial companies for the 22nd time in autumn 2015 to assess the economic situation and topics relevant to daily politics and business management.