GLOBALISING CHINESE BUSINESS NETWORKS : A STUDY OF PUBLIC-LISTED CHINESE FAMILY FIRMS IN SINGAPORE

Abstract

The emergence of Chinese business conglomerates in the recent decades has spurned a lot of relevant literature in the field of Chinese business networks. Much has been attributed to the 'bamboo networks' in explaining the entrepreneurial success of the ethnic Chinese outside China. This thesis examines the international linkages of public-listed Chinese family firms in Singapore. The study shows that generally, public-listed Chinese family firms do conform to characteristics found in the existing literature. Through studies of firms' annual reports, it is argued that instead of being trapped in a close and inward-looking Chinese business network environment, Chinese family firms have very embedded linkages in the area of international finance, one of the important actor-networks in today's global economy. To a certain extent, the characteristics of public-listed Chinese family firms also reflect their degree of globalisation. This enquiry employs quantitative in-depth studies of annual reports to examine the 157 identified public-listed Chinese family firms. The findings show that global linkages are forged directly by means of overseas principal bankers and auditors. The overseas subsidiaries of public-listed Chinese family firms also reflect the extent of their global reach. From there, characteristics like business categories and size of firms are cross analysed with bankers and auditors global spread to reinforce the notion of firms tapping into linkages in the international business sphere. This thesis also draws some implications for future research into regional policy implications. It also calls for further studies of other actor-networks like international media and multilateral institutions to make the topic a more illuminating and informative one.