Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/85038 
Year of Publication: 
2013
Series/Report no.: 
Jena Economic Research Papers No. 2013-010
Publisher: 
Friedrich Schiller University Jena and Max Planck Institute of Economics, Jena
Abstract: 
Being a jack-of-all-trades increases the probability of running an entrepreneurial venture successfully; but what happens to jack-of-few-trades who lack sufficient skills? This paper investigates a possible compensation mechanism between balanced skills and cities, and how this compensatory measure relates to performance. Specifically, we test and find support for the idea put forward by Helsley and Strange (2011) that high market thickness, such as that found in cities, can compensate for a lack of entrepreneurial skill balance. The results indicate that entrepreneurs with low skill balance benefit more from locating in cities than their counterparts with high skill balance. Innovative firms do not differ from other businesses in this respect.
Subjects: 
agglomeration
balanced skills
entrepreneurship
thick markets
urban diversity
JEL: 
R1
L26
J24
O31
Document Type: 
Working Paper

Files in This Item:
File
Size
467.98 kB





Items in EconStor are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.