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The geography of job creation in high growth firms: the implications of ‘growing abroad’

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  • Ross Brown
  • Suzanne Mawson

Abstract

In recent years, there has been an upsurge of interest by policy makers in high growth firms. Interest in these dynamic firms has primarily been driven by their prodigious ability to create new employment. Despite this, very little is known about the complex corporate geographies of these firms and their internationalisation processes. Using quantitative and qualitative data, this paper explores this issue by examining Scottish high growth firms. High growth firms were found to adopt more aggressive forms of international expansion, such as overseas acquisitions, than their non-high growth firm counterparts. As a result of these complex growth processes, a large proportion of high growth firm employment growth is generated outside Scotland. The paper concludes that the regional development impact of high growth firms for small peripheral economies in the UK is more limited than originally envisaged. The implications of the study for further research and public policy are examined.

Suggested Citation

  • Ross Brown & Suzanne Mawson, 2016. "The geography of job creation in high growth firms: the implications of ‘growing abroad’," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 34(2), pages 207-227, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:envirc:v:34:y:2016:i:2:p:207-227
    DOI: 10.1177/0263774X15614152
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