Title: Contribution of local theories for regional development: an empirical study applied to technology-based firms

Authors: João J. Ferreira; Carla S. Marques; Cristina Fernandes

Addresses: Department of Management and Economics and NECE – Research Centre in Business Sciences, University of Beira Interior, Estrada do Sineiro, pólo IV, 6200-209 Covilhã, Portugal. ' Department of Economics, Sociology and Management and CETRAD – Research Unit, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Apartado 1013, 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal. ' Polytechnic Institute of Bragança (IPB), Instituto Superior de Línguas e Administração de Leiria (ISLA), Portugal; NECE – Research Centre in Business Sciences, UBI, Rua da Cooperativa – S. Romão, 2414-017 Leiria, Portugal

Abstract: This research aims to identify the factors which influence the location of technology-based firms. For this purpose, a conceptual research model on the location of firms, based on the neoclassical, behavioural and institutional views is developed. In order to reach these objectives, an empirical study was developed based on a questionnaire filled by 203 technology-based firms located in the Beira Interior region (Portugal). The resulting data was subject to two types of statistical analyses: bivariate and multivariate analyses. It was possible to identify crucial factors that mostly influence the location of these firms. These factors were: founder's wish to live in a particular locality, employees' wish to live in that particular locality; proximity to the residence of the founder; birthplace of the founder; and the level of economic activity in the region.

Keywords: location factors; regional development; technology-based firms; Portugal; firm location; business location; company location.

DOI: 10.1504/IJIRD.2012.048989

International Journal of Innovation and Regional Development, 2012 Vol.4 No.5, pp.414 - 429

Published online: 23 Aug 2014 *

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