The roles of entrepreneurs' political ties : indications from economy hotel chains in China

This study identified the roles played by political ties during the entrepreneurial processes of economy hotel chains in China. This study also explored the negative effects of using political ties and how to avoid those dark impacts. Thirty-four top executives of economy hotel chains were interviewed. Almost all informants expressed political ties as important in the transitional economy of China, though they disagreed on the extent to which political ties could improve the performance of an economy hotel chain. Many of the informants were forced into relationships with government officials because the costs of dropping those relationships were too high.