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This study aims to address two research questions: Do the decision modes on foreign partner selection post-entry vary between different types of family small and medium enterprises (SMEs)? How does socio-emotional wealth (SEW) affect (if so) decision modes in international partnership post-entry decisions (e.g. engagements with or changes of international partners) in different types of family SMEs?

This study employs a qualitative case study design of different types of family SMEs, namely, one family firm with a high level of family involvement in the internationalisation activities of the firm (FMH) and one family firm with a low level of family involvement in the internationalisation activities of the firm (FML).

The case study evidence indicates different decision modes on foreign partner selection post-entry in the investigated family SMEs: a bounded rationality mode in the FMH firm and a real option reasoning in the FML firm. The bounded rationality mode was linked with the appearance of SEW goals in the FMH firm, which in turn led to foreign partner engagements resulting also in a low speed of internationalisation growth. In contrast, the real option reasoning mode in the FML firm was not linked with SEW goals, and it led to international partner changes, resulting in a speedier internationalisation growth.

This study unearths the case that different types of family SMEs can employ different decision modes in their international partnerships, whereas SEW tendencies do not always appear.

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of the Greek partners' prior international joint venture (IJV) experience on partner compatibility, knowledge transfer (KT) and trust in their IJVs.

The authors conducted a primary research study and collected a total of 50 useable questionnaires from Greek firms with IJV participation.

The findings show a positive effect of the Greek partner's prior experience in IJV establishment and management on partner compatibility and on successful KT to the IJV.

The results are significant for executives of firms who seek to expand to international markets through IJV formation and for practitioners involved in IJVs, regarding prior IJV experience, partner compatibility and KT to their IJVs.

This study uses a sample of Greek firms with IJV participation to examine the effect of their prior IJV experience on IJV partner relations in the region of South East (SE) Europe. Additionally, it enhances the understanding of the effect of prior experience in the IJV establishment and management in emerging markets and sheds light to the antecedents of partner compatibility, which have been neglected by researchers.

This study aims to fulfil a twofold purpose: first, to discuss the changes and unique challenges that family firms (FFs) face during the COVID-19 pandemic and/or they will face in the post-COVID era, and second, to reflect on emerging research directions and contextual factors that should be taken into account in future explorations for the benefit of FF scholars who will study post-COVID FF internationalisation.

To address the twofold purpose of the study, we conduct an integrative review of 31 peer-reviewed journal articles in the international business (IB) and FF literature on COVID-19, FFs and internationalisation.

COVID-19 brought changes in IB strategies, IB relationships and human resource management. In responding and/or adapting to those changes, during and post-COVID, FFs face and are expected to face challenges that mainly refer to FFs’ transition to digitalisation and the simultaneous preservation of socio-emotional wealth dimensions while maintaining their international presence. The authors suggest that future research explores the role of digitalisation in achieving FFs’ internationalisation, IB relationship building activities and training and leading international employees. Further contextual factors (e.g. succession issues, family structures) should also be accounted for when exploring such post-COVID IB phenomena.

This study comprises an initial attempt to encompass the interface of FF internationalisation and COVID-19. It also proposes research directions that are likely to set the stage in FFs’ post-COVID internationalisation research.

Investigates EU‐Asian economic relations and identifies some of the factors that can explain their lag vis‐à‐vis Japan and the USA. Argues that the Asian economic turmoil offers the EU a second chance to catch up in their economic relations with the region. Argues further that recent EU initiatives and the European recovery will make it easier for Asian countries to expand their exports to Europe than to the USA and Japan.