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Historical Roots of Entrepreneurial Culture and Innovation Activity - An Analysis for German Regions

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  • Michael Fritsch

    (FSU Jena)

  • Michael Wyrwich

    (FSU Jena)

  • Martin Obschonka

    (Queensland University of Technology Business School Brisbane)

Abstract

There is a research gap with respect to understanding the role of entrepreneurial culture and tradition for actual start-up behaviour. We combine historical self-employment data (entrepreneurial tradition) with a psychological measure for entrepreneurial attitudes (entrepreneurial culture). The results reveal a positive relationship between the historical level of self-employment in a region and the presence of people with an entrepreneurial personality structure today. Our measure for a regional culture of entrepreneurship is positively related not only to the level of new business formation but also the amount of innovation activity.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael Fritsch & Michael Wyrwich & Martin Obschonka, 2018. "Historical Roots of Entrepreneurial Culture and Innovation Activity - An Analysis for German Regions," Jena Economics Research Papers 2018-007, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena.
    • Handle: RePEc:jrp:jrpwrp:2018-007
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    Cited by:

    1. Michael Fritsch & Michael Wyrwich, 2021. "Does Successful Innovation Require Large Urban Areas? Germany as a Counterexample," Economic Geography, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 97(3), pages 284-308, May.
    2. Feng-Wen Chen & Long-Wang Fu & Kai Wang & Sang-Bing Tsai & Ching-Hsia Su, 2018. "The Influence of Entrepreneurship and Social Networks on Economic Growth—From a Sustainable Innovation Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-19, July.
    3. Balaussa Azubayeva, 2021. "The Impact of Cultural Capital on Development of Entrepreneurship in Wales," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-24, December.
    4. Nobuo Kobayashi, 2020. "A factor analysis of business start-up rates in Japan: contemporary and historical context," Discussion Paper Series 202, School of Economics, Kwansei Gakuin University.
    5. Michael Fritsch & Martin Obschonka & Fabian Wahl & Michael Wyrwich, 2021. "Cultural Imprinting: Ancient Origins of Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Germany," Jena Economics Research Papers 2021-012, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Entrepreneurship; self-employment; new business for mation; personality traits; culture; innovation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L26 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Entrepreneurship
    • N94 - Economic History - - Regional and Urban History - - - Europe: 1913-
    • O11 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Macroeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • O30 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - General
    • R11 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Regional Economic Activity: Growth, Development, Environmental Issues, and Changes

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