The Impact of Regional Age Structure on Entrepreneurship

Bibliographic Data

ID4043685
AuthorsWerner Bönte (0000-0002-2923-5423, University of Wuppertal, corresponding author), Oliver Falck (0000-0001-9421-8796, Ifo Institute for Economic Research, corresponding author), Stephan Heblich (0000-0001-6486-3727, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, corresponding author)
Year2009
Volume85
Issue3
Pages269-287
Publication date2009-07-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueEconomic Geography (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0013-0095 • E-ISSN: 1944-8287
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/j.1944-8287.2009.01032.x
OpenAlexW1954504762
LanguageEN
Citations received35
References cited60

Empirical studies based on individual data have found an inverse U-shaped relationship between age and the decision to start a business. Other studies have shown that becoming an entrepreneur is a regional event, with potential entrepreneurs benefiting from their local networks. This article links both strands of literature by introducing age-specific peer effects. Using changes in the age distribution of the population of western German regions over time, we found-in accordance with microlevel analyses-an inverse U-shaped relationship between the regional age structure and start-up activity in a region. Moreover, our findings suggest that the age-specific likelihood of becoming an entrepreneur changes with the size of the age cohort, pointing to the existence of age-specific peer effects

Age structure · Cohort · Demographic economics · Distribution (mathematics) · Economic geography · Economics · Entrepreneurship · Geography · German · Peer effects · Population · Population structure · Regional science · Sociology · Statistics · Demography · Entrepreneurship Studies and Influences · Family Business Performance and Succession · Firm Innovation and Growth · Mathematics · Psychology · Social Psychology

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