THE ANALYSIS OF THE ECONOMIC SITUATION OF FAMILY BUSINESSES IN POLAND AND IN EUROPE

In Poland, as well as in Europe, there are many family businesses, in which the management is passed down from one generation to another. These companies aim to achieve the highest possible profit, continuous improvement and development and Struve to remain on the market. Running well developer, inherited family business seems to be much easier than building a business from scratch. However it can be observed that family businesses also encounter many obstacles and challenges. The purpose of this article is a comparative analysis of the economic situation of family businesses in Poland and in Europe. In the theoretical part of paper, the concept of "family businesses" was defined and elaborated. The empirical part contains the analysis of the research results presented in the fifth edition of the report "Barometr firm rodzinnych. Konsekwentnie do sukcesu" ("Barometer of family firms. Consequently to success"). The study was conducted by KPMG in 2016 among family businesses in Poland and family businesses operating in selected European countries. The theoretical and empirical parts of the article allows for in-depth understanding the economic situation of family businesses in Poland and Europe. The paper draws attention to these entities which are necessary and beneficial for various social groups, the government, local authorities and non-governmental organizations. It also brings closer the most important challenges facing family businesses, builds awareness of their importance and discusses specific strategic behavior.