We congratulate Dr. Francesco Debellis on publishing a perspective paper titled "Family Firms and the governance of global value chains" in the Journal of International Business Studies, together with his esteemed colleagues Emanuela Rondi, Peter J. Buckley, and Alfredo De Massis.

The study challenges internalization theory and the derived global factory model, which are typically used to describe the functioning of Global Value Chains, mainly from the perspective of the lead MNEs and primarily by considering principles of economic efficiency. In this study, Debellis and colleagues integrate the global factory model with a socioemotional wealth perspective, analyzing decisions related to the location of value chain activities and the degree of internalization when the lead MNE is a family firm. The authors present their conceptual reflections by advancing propositions and supporting their analysis with illustrative evidence. The study paves the way for future research to revise and enrich international business theories, taking into account the distinctiveness and heterogeneity of family firms.

Well done to all co-authors for this thought-provoking work!