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Who’s got the aces up his sleeve? Functional specialization of cities and entrepreneurship

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  • Audretsch, David B.
  • Falck, Oliver
  • Heblich, Stephan

Abstract

This paper combines the empirical finding of a functional specialization of cities with regional dynamics.We distinguish between cities dominated by headquarters and service firms (urban agglomerations), those with large stand-alone production plants in one sector (industrial agglomerations), and cities with integrated smaller firms (industrial districts). Based on German data, we find differing dynamics across these three city types. Cities that host basic research or integrated incumbents are more conducive to entrepreneurial activity,whereas the opposite is true of industrial agglomerations. Urban agglomerations dominated by headquarters with only administrative functions and the service sector are not very entrepreneur-friendly, either. However, although this type of city provides few externalities for startups in manufacturing, they could very well provide opportunities for service sector startups.

Suggested Citation

  • Audretsch, David B. & Falck, Oliver & Heblich, Stephan, 2011. "Who’s got the aces up his sleeve? Functional specialization of cities and entrepreneurship," Munich Reprints in Economics 20179, University of Munich, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:lmu:muenar:20179
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    Cited by:

    1. Luisa Gagliardi & Simona Iammarino & Andrés Rodríguez-Pose, 2021. "Exposure to OFDI and regional labour markets: evidence for routine and non-routine jobs in Great Britain [Who’s got the aces up his sleeve? Functional specialization of cities and entrepreneurship]," Journal of Economic Geography, Oxford University Press, vol. 21(5), pages 783-806.
    2. Shi-hong Zeng & Jie-chang Xia, 2016. "Why rapid urbanization process cannot improve employment absorption capacity of service industry in China—also on the interactive mode innovation between service industry development with urbanization," China Finance and Economic Review, Springer, vol. 4(1), pages 1-12, December.
    3. G. F. Gori, 2013. "Urban Functional Specialisation and the Interplay between Firm s Communication Costs," Working Papers wp877, Dipartimento Scienze Economiche, Universita' di Bologna.
    4. Peter Mayerhofer & Oliver Fritz, 2013. "Wiens Stadtwirtschaft. Internationale Spezialisierungschancen, zentrale Wirtschaftsbereiche," WIFO Studies, WIFO, number 57933.
    5. Oliver Falck & Stephan Heblich & Stefan Kipar, 2011. "Incumbent innovation and domestic entry," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 36(3), pages 271-279, April.
    6. Ismaëlh Cissé & Jean Dubé & Cédric Brunelle, 2020. "New business location: how local characteristics influence individual location decision?," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 64(1), pages 185-214, February.
    7. Neil Lee & Andr�s Rodr�guez-Pose, 2014. "Innovation in Creative Cities: Evidence from British Small Firms," Industry and Innovation, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 21(6), pages 494-512, August.
    8. Sarah A. Low & Jason P. Brown, 2017. "Manufacturing Plant Survival in a Period of Decline," Growth and Change, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 48(3), pages 297-312, September.
    9. Zhang, Songlin & Miao, Xuaner & Zheng, Haoqing & Chen, Weihong & Wang, Huafeng, 2024. "Spatial functional division in urban agglomerations and carbon emission intensity: New evidence from 19 urban agglomerations in China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 300(C).
    10. Stefan Kipar, 2012. "Determinants of Firm Innovation - Evidence from German Panel Data," ifo Beiträge zur Wirtschaftsforschung, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, number 45.
    11. Hundt Christian & Sternberg Rolf, 2014. "How Did the Economic Crisis Influence New Firm Creation?: A Multilevel Approach Based Upon Data from German Regions," Journal of Economics and Statistics (Jahrbuecher fuer Nationaloekonomie und Statistik), De Gruyter, vol. 234(6), pages 722-756, December.
    12. Nadine LEVRATTO & Denis CARRÉ, 2013. "La Croissance Des Établissements Industriels : Une Question De Localisation," Region et Developpement, Region et Developpement, LEAD, Universite du Sud - Toulon Var, vol. 38, pages 93-120.

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    JEL classification:

    • O18 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Urban, Rural, Regional, and Transportation Analysis; Housing; Infrastructure
    • R11 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Regional Economic Activity: Growth, Development, Environmental Issues, and Changes
    • R12 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Size and Spatial Distributions of Regional Economic Activity; Interregional Trade (economic geography)

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