Written by leading scholars, The Wiley Handbook of Entrepreneurship provides a distinctive overview of methodological, theoretical and paradigm changes in the area of entrepreneurship research. It is divided into four parts covering history and theory, individual differences and creativity, organizational aspects of innovation including intrapreneurship, and macroeconomic aspects such as social entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship in developing countries. The result is a must-have resource for seasoned researchers and newcomers alike, as well as practitioners and advanced students of business, entrepreneurship, and social and organizational psychology.
This monograph reviews the current state of knowledge about the effects of new business formation on regional development. These effects are diverse and include the creation and destruction of employment, introduction of innovations, structural change, and increasing productivity, among others. Theory particularly emphasizes the role that some new businesses play in the diffusion of knowledge and innovation as drivers of economic growth. I provide an explanatory approach that highlights the competitive challenge that start-ups pose to incumbent firms and discuss important implications. The overview of empirical research particularly deals with the development of start-up cohorts, identification of different types of indirect effects and their magnitude, differences based on characteristics of entry, and regional variation. A general conclusion is that the diverse indirect effects of new business formation on development are much more important than the growth effects created by newcomers. The diverse indirect effects of entry on development are currently less than fully understood. Finally, I draw conclusions for policy and put forward a number of important questions for further research.
New Business Formation and Regional Development provides an overview of the effects that new businesses have on regional development. The focus is on regions because geographical units of observation are much better suited for such an analysis than are industries. Regional growth is a complex process that involves large numbers of start-ups in diverse industries, firm exit, and growing and declining incumbent firms. The determinants of the effects that new business formation has in this complex process may be different from those factors that make individual start-ups succeed or a fail. After an introductory explanation, section 2 begins with a brief sketch of the extant research on this topic. Section 3 reviews the main theoretical approaches that provide insights and explanations, and combines them in a more diverse and comprehensive explanation of the effects of start-ups on development. This eclectic approach particularly highlights the competitive challenge that start-ups pose to incumbent firms and the important role played by the regional environment. Section 4 reports the available empirical evidence on the different effects that new business formation might have on regional development. The research ends with a discussion of policy implications in Section 5, and outlining important questions for further research in Section 6.
The belief that new business formation is a source of economic growth is widespread. This belief has been a strong motivation for a great deal of research in entrepreneurship. It has also motivated politicians in many countries to devise strategies aimed at stimulating the formation of new firms. However, the theoretical as well as the empirical foundation for this belief are remarkably weak. Empirical research on the issue started late and only recently have researchers begun to assess the effects of new businesses on economic development in detail. The effect of new business formation on regional development is an important field of research. A proper understanding of these relationships may provide valuable inputs for policies aimed at stimulating growth. This short introduction provides an overview on the current state of knowledge about the effects that new businesses have on regional development. The focus is on regions for three reasons. First, geographical units of observation are much better suited for such an analysis than are industries. Second, empirical research has shown that the magnitude of the effects of new business formation on growth differs considerably across regions pointing to the importance of region-specific factors. Third, regions are an important arena for development policy (for an extensive review see Fritsch, 2013).
When originally published in 1986, this book was one of the first to deal solely with the urban and regional incidence and development implications of new firm formation in particular EU countries. It reviews the extent of and reasons for geographical variation in numbers of new firms, examines the nature of such firms and assesses the regional impact and policy implications in various EC countries.
Ô. . . the book is an important reading in the field of entrepreneurship. One of its main contributions is that it clearly shows that the process of new firm formation is a regional event. The chapters are rich in theoretical insights and data, and are valuable readings for students, academics, and policy-makers interested in entrepreneurship and regional growth.Õ Ð Christine Tam‡sy, Regional Studies ÔEntrepreneurship can have powerful effects on local as well as national economies. The chapters in this edited volume, authored by well-known experts in their fields, explore various aspects of entrepreneurship and regional development. The book provides an illuminating overview of the current state of knowledge while also sharing with the reader several new findings and insights on issues as diverse as globalization, regional employment growth, nascent entrepreneurs, gazelles, labor productivity, government regulations, and university entrepreneurship. It is recommended reading for anyone interested in these topics.Õ Ð Simon C. Parker, The University of Western Ontario, Canada ÔThere is substantial evidence regarding the considerable regional variation in business creation. Michael Fritsch has done a fine job of assembling the most recent analyses of the best scholars on the regional factors affecting firm creation and the consequences. It is essential reading for any scholar or policy analyst seeking a state-of-the-art overview of the current empirical status of research on this important topic.Õ Ð Paul D. Reynolds, George Washington University, US ÔThis Handbook examines the contribution of the entrepreneur and related processes to regional economic development. The recognition that the indirect entrepreneurial effects on development are more significant than the direct is an important and under-girding conclusion. And further, that entrepreneurial driven effects are often not felt immediately but in some cases only across decades, as illustrated by the over-two-decade incubation of the entrepreneurial culture in Silicon Valley which only later resulted in it becoming the dominant icon of scientific and technology regional development that it is today.Õ Ð Roger Stough, George Mason University, US ÔThis volume fills an important gap in the research literature on entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship is a localized phenomenon and all too many studies disregard this fact. Thus, the regional economic milieu is a critical factor determining not only the volume and type of entrepreneurship but also the effects of entrepreneurship in terms of value-added growth, employment growth, etc. The contributions in this book by a number of leading scientists in the field provide an excellent overview and understanding of the prerequisites for and the role of entrepreneurship in regional growth and development.Õ Ð Charlie Karlsson, Jšnkšping University, Sweden Recent research has found pronounced differences in the level of entrepreneurship and new business formation across various regions and nations. This timely Handbook reveals that the development of new ventures as well as their effects on overall economic growth are strongly shaped by their regional and national environment. The expert group of contributors gives an overview on the current state of the art in this field, and proposes avenues for further investigation. Topics include the regional determinants of new business formation, the effects of start-ups on growth, the role of globalization for regional entrepreneurship, the effect of national and regional framework conditions, as well as the role of universities as incubators of innovative new firms.
This work examines the role of new firm formation in regional economic development. While the focus is on Scotland, the strong policy orientation and comparative treatment mean that the issues covered have a much wider application and interest.
Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Regional Development is unique in that it addresses the central factors in economic development – entrepreneurship, innovation and organizational learning – as regional phenomena. This definitive text focuses on different types of organizations to illustrate the value of entrepreneurship and innovation both for businesses and for regional development. Establishing a firm link between entrepreneurship, innovation and economic regeneration, the book also examines the factors contributing to their success. Replete with international case studies, empirical evidence of concepts and practical examples, this is an ideal text to support postgraduate teaching and research related to entrepreneurship, innovation management and regional economic development.
This book offers a dynamic perspective on regional entrepreneurship, knowledge, innovation and economic growth, with a particular focus on the role that history and culture play. The authors provide comprehensive empirical analyses offering unique insights into the spatial patterns of long-term differences of regional self-employment, new business formation, cultures of entrepreneurship, innovation activities, and development. Policy implications from the analyses and a discussion of important avenues for future research complete this unique book combining history, culture, and entrepreneurship. This is a superb book with an original, historical take on entrepreneurship and regional development. It is a landmark study on Germany showing that regional levels of entrepreneurship are persistent and resilient, despite many disruptive shocks. Ron Boschma, Utrecht University, The Netherlands, and Stavanger University, Norway This book presents the distilled wisdom of two leading authorities on the link between entrepreneurship and economic prosperity at a regional level. Although its prime empirical focus is on Germany there are clear lessons for scholars and policy-makers in all high-income countries. David J Storey, University of Sussex, UK
