Demographics of Family Businesses in the Governorate of Irbid / Study in Economic Geography

Abstract

This study aims to track the temporal evolution of family companies in Irbid Governorate, investigating their stages and characteristics developments based on generation variable, and thus, constructing a life cycle model of these companies. The study employed the evolution, descriptive, and analytical models to achieve the first and second objectives. It has also implemented the life cycle model for these companies. The study found that the family companies have a significant economic weight in the gross domestic product of more than 80%, where 76.7% of these companies are concentrated in the Kasbah District of Irbid (Governorate Center). Besides, there is a strong relationship between the spatial distribution of family companies in the governorate and the population size, because the correlation coefficient was approximately (0.97). The study recommended the necessity of constructing a family firm database that contains in its classifications sub-lists of the legal characteristics, paying attention to emerging companies in their early stages of growth, and providing technical and advisory support to ensure their continuity for future generations.