Examines the motivation for achievement as a psychological factor that shapes economic development. Refuting arguments based on race, climate, or population growth, the book instead argues for cultural customs and motivations - especially the motivation for achievement - as the major catalysts of economic growth. Considering the Protestant Reformation, the rise of capitalism, parents' influences on sons, and folklore and children's stories as shaping cultural motivations for achievement, the book hypothesizes that a high level of achievement motivation precedes economic growth. This is supported through qualitative analysis of the achievement motive, as well as of other psychological factors - including entrepreneurial behavior and characteristics, and available sources of achievement in past and present highly achieving societies. It is the achievement motive - and not merely the profit motive or the desire for material gain - that has advanced societies economically. Consequently, individuals are not merely products of their environment, as many social scientists have asserted, but also creators of the environment, as they manipulate it in various ways in the search for achievement. Finally, a plan is hypothesized to accelerate economic growth in developing countries, by encouraging and supplementing their achievement motives through mobilizing the greater achievement resources of developed countries. The conclusion is not just that motivations shape economic progress, but that current influences on future people's motivations and values will determine economic growth in the long run. Thus, it is most beneficial for a society to concentrate its resources on creating an environment conducive to entrepreneurship and a strong ideological base for achievement. (CJC)

The Achieving Society

Substantial research has been conducted towards understanding why and how universities shape regional wealth and competitiveness. In this paper we extend this literature to examine empirically causal relationships between university-induced knowledge spillovers and regional wealth using a hand collected panel data set from 1998 to 2012. Literature has identified three possible effects of causality, namely that a university exogenously fosters and spurs regional wealth, second that universities are endogenously shaped by regional wealth and finally that regional wealth and universities follow an interlinked and co-evolutionary path. Our findings support the latter direction in that universities and their regional endowment are linked together.

University–industry collaboration and regional wealth

Clusters and firm-level innovation: A configurational analysis of agglomeration, network and institutional advantages in European aerospace

Are social enterprises technological innovative?: A quantitative analysis on social entrepreneurs in emerging countries

The role of the cultural and creative industries (CCIs) in fostering innovation and growth in the wider economy has been much debated, beginning with Bakhshi et al. (2008) seminal contribution. Suc...

Do the creative industries support growth and innovation in the wider economy? Industry relatedness and employment growth in Italy

This paper investigates the effect of related and unrelated variety on regional growth in West Germany. In particular, it analyzes the role of regional absorptive capacity and new business formation for these effects. It finds that West German regions benefit from both types of varieties. The positive effect of unrelated variety on growth is more pronounced in regions with higher levels of absorptive capacity in terms of research and development activities and with higher levels of new business formation. Such moderating effects cannot be found for related variety.

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Related variety, unrelated variety and regional growth: the role of absorptive capacity and entrepreneurship

This paper investigates the effect of related and unrelated variety on regional growth in West Germany. In particular, we analyze the role of regional absorptive capacity and new business formation for these effects. We find that West German regions benefit from both types of varieties. The positive effect of unrelated variety on growth is more pronounced in regions with higher levels of absorptive capacity in terms of R&D activities and with higher levels of new business formation. Such moderating effects cannot be found for related variety.

Related Variety, Unrelated Variety, and Regional Growth: The Role of Absorptive Capacity and Entrepreneurship

We investigate persistence and change of regional new business formation in West Germany over a period of 30 years. Our indicator is the position of a region in the national ranking. We confirm the role of several sources of this persistence, namely, persistence in regional determinants of new business formation and path dependence in new business formation activity. The results for the role of a distinct regional culture of entrepreneurship are, however, ambiguous. Main factors that are related to changes in the national ranking are the employment share in small businesses, the share of manufacturing employment and a relatively low regional wage level. R&D activities are also conducive for new business formation but become effective only with a time lag.

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Persistence and change of regional new business formation in the national league table

We distinguish four types of regional growth regimes based on the relationship between new business formation and economic development. The distinguishing characteristics of these regime types are analyzed in order to identify the reasons for different growth performance. Although growth regimes are highly persistent over time, typical transition patterns between regime types can be identified. We explain these patterns and draw conclusions for policy. The evidence clearly suggests that entrepreneurship is a key driver of economic development and one that has long-run effects on regional economic well-being.

Entrepreneurship, Growth, and Regional Growth Regimes

We investigate persistence and change of the levels of regional new business formation in West Germany over a period of thirty years. Our indicator is the position of a region in the national ranking. As indicated by previous studies, we generally find a rather high level of persistence and confirm the role of several sources of this persistence, namely, persistence in regional determinants of new business formation, distinct regional cultures of entrepreneurship, and path dependence in new business formation activity. There are, however, also a number of regions that have moved up or down in the national ranking by a considerable number of positions. We find that main factors that are related to such rank changes are R&D activities, industry diversity, and regional wage levels.

Sandra Kublina

Papers

Related variety, unrelated variety and regional growth: the role of absorptive capacity and entrepreneurship

Related Variety, Unrelated Variety, and Regional Growth: The Role of Absorptive Capacity and Entrepreneurship

Persistence and change of regional new business formation in the national league table

Entrepreneurship, Growth, and Regional Growth Regimes

Persistence and Change of Regional New Business Formation in the National League Table