The Formation and Development of Small Business: Issues and Evidence (Routledge Studies in Small Business)

This book brings together thirty years of original empirical research on key aspects of the formation and development of small firms from selected articles authored or co-authored by Peter Johnson. Complete with a comprehensive introduction from the author placing the work in relation to the contemporary debates on the subject and providing a cohesive overview, these essays provide an excellent historical context for current research in this area. Many of the studies in this book emphasise the interrelatedness of economic activity and decisions, an emphasis that serves as an important reminder of the complex business environments in which small firms operate. The book is divided into five sections. The first part focuses on the process of business formation. In part two, the role of new firms in regional development is considered. The third section deals with employment issues, whilst part four looks at various aspects of growth and development. Finally, the book concludes with two articles on policy. Book Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 4 Copyright......Page 5 Contents......Page 6 Preface......Page 8 Acknowledgements......Page 9 1 Introduction......Page 12 Part I Business formation......Page 30 2 The founders of new manufacturing firms: A note on the size of their ‘incubator’ plants......Page 32 3 Firm formation in manufacturing industry......Page 38 4 How good are the U.K. VAT registration data at measuring firm births?......Page 48 Part II Regional issues......Page 60 5 New manufacturing firms and regional development: Some evidence from the Northern Region......Page 62 6 Spatial variations in the determinants and effects of firm births and deaths......Page 79 7 Differences in regional firm formation rates: A decomposition analysis......Page 98 Part III Employment......Page 114 8 Unemployment and self-employment: A survey......Page 116 9 New firms and employment creation......Page 132 10 Employment change in the small establishment sector in UK manufacturing......Page 145 Part IV Growth and development......Page 158 11 How good are small firms at predicting employment?......Page 160 12 Small business growth in the short run......Page 174 13 The size–age–growth relationship in not-for-profit tourist attractions: Evidence from UK museums......Page 189 Part V Policy......Page 204 14 Government policies towards business formation: An economic appraisal of a training scheme......Page 206 15 Targeting firm births and economic regeneration in a lagging region......Page 224 16 Some reflections......Page 246 Index......Page 250 Here Peter Johnson has put together a collection of his groundbreaking research. Now in one volume for the first time, it will be of great interest to those in every area of business and economics. Here Peter Johnson has put together a collection of his groundbreaking research. Now in one volume for the first time, it will be of great interest to those in every area of business and economics.