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Creative Class and Regional Growth - Empirical Evidence from Eight European Countries

Author

Listed:
  • Ron A. Boschma

    (Utrecht University, Department of Economic Geography, Utrecht, Netherlands)

  • Michael Fritsch

    (Friedrich Schiller University Jena, German Institute of Economic Research, Berlin, and Max Planck Institute of Economics, Jena, Germany)

Abstract

We analyze the regional distribution and the effect of people in creative occupations based on data for more than 450 regions in eight European countries. The geographic distribution of the creative class is highly uneven. The creative class is not attracted to highly urbanized regions per se, but rather a climate of tolerance and openness seem to be rather important factors. We find that the creative class has a positive and significant effect on employment growth and new business formation at the regional level. Human capital as measured by creative occupation outperforms indicators that are based on formal education.

Suggested Citation

  • Ron A. Boschma & Michael Fritsch, 2007. "Creative Class and Regional Growth - Empirical Evidence from Eight European Countries," Jena Economics Research Papers 2007-066, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena.
    • Handle: RePEc:jrp:jrpwrp:2007-066
    as

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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Michael Fritsch, 2004. "Entrepreneurship, entry and performance of new business compared in two growth regimes: East and West Germany," Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer, vol. 14(5), pages 525-542, December.
    2. Michael Fritsch, 2007. "The Geography and the Effect of Creative People in Germany," Jena Economics Research Papers 2007-001, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena.
    3. Ron Martin & Peter Sunley, 1998. "Slow Convergence? The New Endogenous Growth Theory and Regional Development," Economic Geography, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 74(3), pages 201-227, July.
    4. Richard Florida, 2002. "Bohemia and economic geography," Journal of Economic Geography, Oxford University Press, vol. 2(1), pages 55-71, January.
    5. Norma M Rantisi & Deborah Leslie & Susan Christopherson, 2006. "Placing the Creative Economy: Scale, Politics, and the Material," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 38(10), pages 1789-1797, October.
    6. Jamie Peck, 2005. "Struggling with the Creative Class," International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(4), pages 740-770, December.
    7. G.A. Marlet & C. van Woerkens, 2004. "Skills and Creativity in a Cross-section of Dutch Cities," Working Papers 04-29, Utrecht School of Economics.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Creativity; innovation; entrepreneurship; regional development;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
    • O18 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Urban, Rural, Regional, and Transportation Analysis; Housing; Infrastructure
    • R12 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Size and Spatial Distributions of Regional Economic Activity; Interregional Trade (economic geography)

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