This work examines the role of new firm formation in regional economic development. While the focus is on Scotland, the strong policy orientation and comparative treatment mean that the issues covered have a much wider application and interest.

List of figures, List of tables. List of contributors, Preface, Acknowledgements, 1 New firm formation and regional economic development: an introduction and review of the Scottish experience, 2 Employment change and new firm formation in UK counties, 1981–9, 3 Survival, growth and age of SMEs: some implications for regional economic development, 4 Empirical research on the role of new firms in Scotland, 5 Banks and small businesses: an Anglo-Scottish comparison, 6 Social networking: a comparative behavioural study between would-be entrepreneurs in Scotland and Boston, Massachusetts, 7 Social networks, entrepreneurship and regional development: research issues, 8 The business birth rate, real services and networking: strategic options, 9 Networks and new enterprise development in Russia: a case study of the Yaroslavl region, 10 The use of external advice by new and established SMEs: some survey evidence, 11 New software companies in Scotland: growth constraints and policy implications, 12 What is the role of new firms in a local economic development strategy? How the issue was tackled in developing Forth Valley Enterprise’s business strategy, 13 Whatever you hit call the target: an alternative approach to small business policy, Index