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Local Labor Force Education, New Business Characteristics, and Firm Performance

In: Cities and Entrepreneurship

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  • Mark Doms
  • Ethan Lewis
  • Alicia Robb

Abstract

It is often asserted that a highly educated workforce is vital to improving the competitive position of American businesses, especially by boosting entrepreneurship. To examine this contention, we use population Census data and a new panel data of startup firms, to examine how the education and skill level of the local labor force are related to the creation and success of new businesses. This paper studies relationship between education, entrepreneurship, and businesses outcomes, and considers simultaneously both the education of the entrepreneur and of the workforce where the entrepreneurs operate their businesses. Consistent with this simultaneous focus, our initial results indicate that more educated entrepreneurs tend to be located in metropolitan areas with more educated workforces. Moreover, highly educated areas have above average entrepreneurship rates. Finally, the level of education of entrepreneurs is strongly related to positive business outcomes, especially for college graduates compared to those with less than a four-year degree.
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Suggested Citation

  • Mark Doms & Ethan Lewis & Alicia Robb, 2010. "Local Labor Force Education, New Business Characteristics, and Firm Performance," NBER Chapters, in: Cities and Entrepreneurship, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberch:11895
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • O12 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • R58 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Regional Government Analysis - - - Regional Development Planning and Policy

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