A new piece of research from Credit Suisse’s research institute has shown family businesses tend to outperform – in part due to a longer-term focus and higher research and development spend.

The study, Credit Suisse Family 1000, looked at 1000 listed companies where the founder or their family owns at least 20 percent of the company’s share capital; or controls at least 20 percent of the voting rights.

This universe of companies had outperformed non-family-owned...