Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0
Author-Name: Beckers, Pascal
Author-Email: Pascal.Beckers@maastrichtuniversity.nl
Author-Workplace-Name: UNU-MERIT/MGSoG, Maastricht University
Author-Name: Kloosterman, Robert C.
Author-Email: R.C.Kloosterman@uva.nl
Author-Workplace-Name: Amsterdam Institute fr Social Science Research,
	 University of Amsterdam
Title: Business spaces between entrepreneurs and opportunities. The impact of the local 
	 built environment and zoning regulations on businesses in Dutch cities 
Abstract: Urban residential neighbourhoods, including migrant neighbourhoods, have 
	 become important incubation zones for small-scale businesses in recent 
	 years, and policy makers and academics alike are wondering which local 
	 factors affect this development.  
	 In this paper we analyse to what extent migrant neighbourhood 
	 characteristics related to the built environment and the local 
	 regulations matter in determining the possibilities for small 
	 businesses. We contrast two types of neighbourhoods in the Netherlands, 
	 namely pre-WWII neighbourhoods with relatively little functional 
	 separation between residential and commercial purposes, and post-WWII 
	 predominantly mono-functional residential neighbourhoods. We combine 
	 quantitative and qualitative methodology using available firm data from 
	 trade registers of the Dutch regional chambers of commerce, reviewing 
	 neighbourhood zoning regulations, and conducting group and individual 
	 interviews with neighbourhood experts and entrepreneurs.  
	 We find that the built environment of migrant neighbourhoods and its 
	 zoning do indeed appear to play a significant role in shaping the local 
	 business prospects of firms.
Classification-JEL: R23, R28, O18, J15
Keywords: Small-firm development, business success, local built environment,
	 zoning regulations, neighbourhood effects, urban residential neighbourhoods
Series: UNU-MERIT Working Papers
Creation-Date: 2011
Number: 2011-063
File-URL: https://unu-merit.nl/publications/wppdf/2011/wp2011-063.pdf
File-Format: application/pdf
File-Size: 275 Kb
Handle: RePEc:unm:unumer:2011063