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A gold rush theory of economic development

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  • Ralph Ossa

Abstract

This paper presents a model of social learning about the suitability of local conditions for new business ventures and explores its implications for the microeconomic patterns of economic development. I show that: i) firms tend to ‘rush’ into business ventures with which other firms have had surprising success thus causing development to be ‘lumpy’; ii) sufficient business confidence is crucial for fostering economic growth; iii) development may involve wave-like patterns of growth where successive business ventures are first pursued and then given up; iv) there is, nevertheless, no guarantee that firms pursue the best venture even in the long-run.
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Suggested Citation

  • Ralph Ossa, 2013. "A gold rush theory of economic development," Journal of Economic Geography, Oxford University Press, vol. 13(1), pages 107-117, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:jecgeo:v:13:y:2013:i:1:p:107-117
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/jeg/lbs002
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    Cited by:

    1. Behrens, Kristian & Seegert, Nathan, 2025. "Rushing to opportunity: City growth and entrepreneurship," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    2. Behrens, Kristian & Robert-Nicoud, Frédéric, 2015. "Agglomeration Theory with Heterogeneous Agents," Handbook of Regional and Urban Economics, in: Gilles Duranton & J. V. Henderson & William C. Strange (ed.), Handbook of Regional and Urban Economics, edition 1, volume 5, chapter 0, pages 171-245, Elsevier.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • O12 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • O14 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Industrialization; Manufacturing and Service Industries; Choice of Technology
    • O10 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - General

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