Entrepreneurship and Economic Development

Increasing uncertainty in the world economy has created challenges for regions to pursue development strategies to achieve economic growth. Globalization, increased marketing integration, and the advent of new technologies led to approaches from traditional industrial recruiting to less traditional approaches. Among these latter approaches is the increased importance of entrepreneurship for creating economic growth through establishment of new firms or growth from established firms. This book identifies how entrepreneurial factors and other local characteristics influence growth in population, employment, and per capita income. The study explores the contributions of entrepreneurship to the local economy and develops a map for designing specific development policies for a region such as the Appalachia that is characterized by underdevelopment and poverty. It is a valuable reference for students, researchers, scientists, consultants, policy-makers and individuals who are interested in entrepreneurship and economic development.