The effect of new business creation on employment growth in regions facing population decline

Abstract

Particularly in declining regions, new businesses creation is seen as a means to secure (future) employment opportunities. However, the way in which new business creation exerts its influence on employment is not evident. Do start-ups in these areas influencing employment change as they do in growth regions? We disentangle the long- and short-term employment effect of new business creation in municipalities in the Netherlands between 1996 and 2010. We conclude that the regional context matters a great deal for the local employment effect of business creation. Further, it is shown in contexts with modest population decline, new businesses are still an important generator of employment opportunities.