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Testing the Differential Effect of Business Incubators on Firm Growth

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  • Eric Stokan
  • Lyke Thompson
  • Robert J. Mahu

Abstract

This research examines whether business incubators produce a differential effect on the growth of firms. Given that there is no direct estimate for the counterfactual (simultaneously measuring the economic growth of a firm outside and inside of an incubator), the authors use a propensity score matching technique to control for the factors that are related to both firm growth and the probability that an incubator manager would accept that firm for incubation. The analysis indicates that incubators have a significant positive impact on firm job creation, and this impact is not reduced if a matched comparison group is used. Furthermore, this study finds that incubated firms receive five times as many business services (legal, financial, marketing, etc.) as their nonincubated cohort. This may account for the networking effect found in previous studies.

Suggested Citation

  • Eric Stokan & Lyke Thompson & Robert J. Mahu, 2015. "Testing the Differential Effect of Business Incubators on Firm Growth," Economic Development Quarterly, , vol. 29(4), pages 317-327, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:ecdequ:v:29:y:2015:i:4:p:317-327
    DOI: 10.1177/0891242415597065
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    Cited by:

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    2. van Weele, Marijn & van Rijnsoever, Frank J. & Nauta, Frans, 2017. "You can't always get what you want: How entrepreneur's perceived resource needs affect the incubator's assertiveness," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 18-33.
    3. Zhao, Liming & Zhang, Haihong & Wu, Wenqing, 2017. "Knowledge service decision making in business incubators based on the supernetwork model," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 479(C), pages 249-264.
    4. Frank J. Van Rijnsoever & Marijn A. Van Weele & Chris P. Eveleens, 2017. "Network brokers or hit makers? Analyzing the influence of incubation on start-up investments," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 13(2), pages 605-629, June.
    5. Eva-María Mora-Valentín & Marta Ortiz-de-Urbina-Criado & Juan-José Nájera-Sánchez, 2018. "Mapping the conceptual structure of science and technology parks," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 43(5), pages 1410-1435, October.
    6. Lukeš, Martin & Longo, Maria Cristina & Zouhar, Jan, 2019. "Do business incubators really enhance entrepreneurial growth? Evidence from a large sample of innovative Italian start-ups," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 82, pages 25-34.
    7. Scheuplein, Christoph & Kahl, Julian, 2017. "Do Company Builders Create Jobs? Examining the Rise of Incubation Finance in Germany," MPRA Paper 82733, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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