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Regional differences in structural characteristics of start-ups

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  • Franz Tödtling
  • Herta Wanzenböck

Abstract

In recent years new firm formation has become a major area of both research and policy. Yet, while regional differences in business start-up intensity, and their causes, have been the subject of various studies, few attempts have been made to investigate spatial variation in the structural features of start-ups. Theoretical considerations and the existing literature both suggest that agglomeration advantages and sectoral structure of regions figure prominently among the factors important in influencing start-up activity and characteristics. In the empirical analysis of start-ups in Austria we accordingly apply a regional typology based on these two factors. The data analysed were drawn from two similarly designed surveys relating to the years 1990 and 1997. It is shown that Austria displays marked regional differences in start-up activity, in terms of both intensity and characteristics. In line with the urban incubator hypothesis, tertiary centres - above all the Vienna region - displayed significantly above-average start-up rates, as well as more favourable structural characteristics of the new firms. Start-up activity in old industrial and in rural areas was substantially lower than average, structural features also being less positive there. Furthermore, the 1990 cohort displayed regional differences in business start-ups' survival period, although the Cox model indicated no significant direct influence of area type in this respect. In economic policy terms it can be concluded that, as well as a general improvement in the environment for start-ups, greater regional differentiation of financial, informational and consultancy support is desirable, since not only the conditions for new firm formation but also the intensity and characteristics of start-ups themselves vary considerably between regions.

Suggested Citation

  • Franz Tödtling & Herta Wanzenböck, 2003. "Regional differences in structural characteristics of start-ups," Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 15(4), pages 351-370, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:entreg:v:15:y:2003:i:4:p:351-370
    DOI: 10.1080/0898562032000058923
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Almus, Matthias & Egeln, Jürgen & Engel, Dirk, 1999. "Determinanten regionaler Unterschiede in der Gründungshäufigkeit wissensintensiver Dienstleister," ZEW Discussion Papers 99-22, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
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    1. Evgeny A. Kuzmin & Marina V. Vinogradova & Valentina E. Guseva, 2019. "Projection of enterprise survival rate in dynamics of regional economic sustainability: case study of Russia and the EU," Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Issues, VsI Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Center, vol. 6(4), pages 1602-1617, June.
    2. Josée St-Pierre & Claude Mathieu, 2005. "The competitiveness of SMEs: obstacles and the need for outside help," Post-Print hal-01704623, HAL.
    3. Zheng, Guo & Barbieri, Elisa & Di Tommaso, Marco R. & Zhang, Lei, 2016. "Development zones and local economic growth: zooming in on the Chinese case," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 38(C), pages 238-249.
    4. Capelleras , Joan-Lluís & Contín-Pilart , Ignacio & Martin-Sanchez, Victor & Larraza-Kintana , Martín, 2013. "The influence of individual perceptions and the urban/rural environment on nascent entrepreneurship," INVESTIGACIONES REGIONALES - Journal of REGIONAL RESEARCH, Asociación Española de Ciencia Regional, issue 26, pages 97-113.
    5. Sven-Olov Daunfeldt & Niklas Elert & Niklas Rudholm, 2013. "Start-ups and firm in-migration: evidence from the Swedish wholesale industry," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 51(2), pages 479-494, October.
    6. Roundy, Philip T. & Bradshaw, Mike & Brockman, Beverly K., 2018. "The emergence of entrepreneurial ecosystems: A complex adaptive systems approach," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 1-10.
    7. Leanne Johnstone & Mariana Pio Monteiro & Inês Ferreira & Johanna Westerlund & Roosa Aalto & Jenni Marttinen, 2018. "Language ability and entrepreneurship education: Necessary skills for Europe’s start-ups?," Journal of International Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 16(3), pages 369-397, September.
    8. Lee, In Hyeock & Hong, Eunsuk & Sun, Laixiang, 2013. "Regional knowledge production and entrepreneurial firm creation: Spatial Dynamic Analyses," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 66(10), pages 2106-2115.

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