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The effects of supporting local business: Evidence from the UK

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  • Einiö, Elias
  • Overman, Henry G.

Abstract

This paper assesses the effects of a significant place-based intervention that targeted local businesses in deprived areas in the UK. To gain identification, we use data at a fine spatial scale and a regression discontinuity design exploiting the eligibility deprivation rank rule based on a pre-determined deprivation index. We detect no overall effects on employment in treated areas but find a significant displacement of employment from nearby untreated areas, corresponding to around 10% of local employment. The results suggest that indirect displacement effects may substantially weaken the ability of local support programmes targeting the non-tradable sector to reduce economic inequality.

Suggested Citation

  • Einiö, Elias & Overman, Henry G., 2020. "The effects of supporting local business: Evidence from the UK," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:regeco:v:83:y:2020:i:c:s016604621930050x
    DOI: 10.1016/j.regsciurbeco.2019.103500
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    3. Manon Garrouste & Miren Lafourcade, 2022. "Place-Based Policies: Opportunity for Deprived Schools or Zone-and-Shame Effect?," Post-Print hal-04329793, HAL.
    4. Crescenzi, Riccardo & Di Cataldo, Marco & Giua, Mara, 2020. "It’s not about the money. EU funds, local opportunities, and Euroscepticism," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    5. Freedman, Matthew & Khanna, Shantanu & Neumark, David, 2023. "Combining rules and discretion in economic development policy: Evidence on the impacts of the California Competes Tax Credit," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 217(C).
    6. Bearzotti, Enia & Polanec, Sašo & Bartolj, Tjaša, 2023. "The Effects of Subsidies on Firm Size and Productivity," MPRA Paper 118490, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    7. Maximilian von Ehrlich, 2024. "The Importance of EU Cohesion Policy for Economic Growth and Convergence," Diskussionsschriften credresearchpaper46, Universitaet Bern, Departement Volkswirtschaft - CRED.
    8. Gabriel, José Mesquita & dos Santos, João Pereira & Tavares, José, 2022. "European funds and firm performance: Evidence from a natural experiment," Ruhr Economic Papers 966, RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-University Bochum, TU Dortmund University, University of Duisburg-Essen.
    9. Marjan Petreski, 2021. "Measuring economic effects of state aid granted to private enterprises in North Macedonia: The case of the governmental Plan for Economic Growth," Finance Think Policy Studies 2021-05/34, Finance Think - Economic Research and Policy Institute.
    10. Julien Martin & Florian Mayneris, 2022. "Revue de littérature sur l’incidence fiscale des taxes sur les entreprises," CIRANO Project Reports 2022rp-06, CIRANO.
    11. Bruno Gallotta & Polina Baranova & Fred Paterson, 2023. "Pro-environmental enterprise support: Developing a framework to unlock the potential of SMEs in sustainability transitions," Local Economy, London South Bank University, vol. 38(6), pages 582-605, September.
    12. Mesquita, José & Pereira dos Santos, João & Tavares, José, 2023. "European Funds and Firm Performance: Evidence from a Natural Experiment," IZA Discussion Papers 16526, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    13. Marjan Petreski, 2022. "State Aid Causing Distinct Incentives? Quasi-Experimental Measurement of the Effects of Grants on Private Enterprises in North Macedonia," Evaluation Review, , vol. 46(2), pages 200-230, April.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Employment; Business support; Local growth; Programme evaluation; Displacement; Regression discontinuity;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • R11 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Regional Economic Activity: Growth, Development, Environmental Issues, and Changes
    • H25 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Business Taxes and Subsidies
    • J20 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - General
    • O40 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - General

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