IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/sae/loceco/v35y2020i2p155-164.html

Beyond formal policies: Informal functions of mayor’s offices to promote entrepreneurship

Author

Listed:
  • Yasuyuki Motoyama

Abstract

Scholars of economic development have generally concluded that local governments have limited capacities, due to their limited resources and orientation toward short-term growth output. In addition, past studies have predominantly examined explicit and formal policies or programs. However, there are other informal yet important dimensions of local governments that can promote economic development. By bringing in examples of mayor’s offices in the context of entrepreneurship in the U.S., this article explores and highlights four major informal functions those municipal offices can perform: (1) setting the priorities, (2) offering a clearinghouse, (3) connecting and coordinating people, and (4) appointing key personnel. Each function does have consequences, and a combination of the functions can significantly contribute to entrepreneurial activities in the local area. While evaluation of effectiveness will be difficult, scholars ought to conduct more exploratory research to understand those potentially significant functions of government for economic development, which includes qualitative dimensions that broadly affect individuals, firms, communities, and regions.

Suggested Citation

  • Yasuyuki Motoyama, 2020. "Beyond formal policies: Informal functions of mayor’s offices to promote entrepreneurship," Local Economy, London South Bank University, vol. 35(2), pages 155-164, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:loceco:v:35:y:2020:i:2:p:155-164
    DOI: 10.1177/0269094220913864
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0269094220913864
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1177/0269094220913864?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Mowery, David C. & Nelson, Richard R. & Sampat, Bhaven N. & Ziedonis, Arvids A., 2001. "The growth of patenting and licensing by U.S. universities: an assessment of the effects of the Bayh-Dole act of 1980," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 30(1), pages 99-119, January.
    2. David B. Audretsch & Albert N. Link & John T. Scott, 2013. "Public/private technology partnerships: evaluating SBIR-supported research," Chapters, in: Public Support of Innovation in Entrepreneurial Firms, chapter 5, pages 91-104, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    3. Timothy J. Bartik, 1991. "Who Benefits from State and Local Economic Development Policies?," Books from Upjohn Press, W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, number wbsle.
    4. Audretsch, David B. & Feldman, Maryann P., 2004. "Knowledge spillovers and the geography of innovation," Handbook of Regional and Urban Economics, in: J. V. Henderson & J. F. Thisse (ed.), Handbook of Regional and Urban Economics, edition 1, volume 4, chapter 61, pages 2713-2739, Elsevier.
    5. F.C. Stam & Andrew van de Ven, 2018. "Entrepreneurial Ecosystems: A Systems Perspective," Working Papers 18-06, Utrecht School of Economics.
    6. Shane, Scott, 2004. "Encouraging university entrepreneurship? The effect of the Bayh-Dole Act on university patenting in the United States," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 19(1), pages 127-151, January.
    7. Allan O'Connor & Erik Stam & Fiona Sussan & David B. Audretsch (ed.), 2018. "Entrepreneurial Ecosystems," International Studies in Entrepreneurship, Springer, number 978-3-319-63531-6, December.
    8. Andrew Toole & Dirk Czarnitzki, 2007. "Biomedical Academic Entrepreneurship through the SBIR Program," NBER Chapters, in: Academic Science and Entrepreneurship: Dual Engines of Growth, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    9. Robert Giloth, 2019. "Philanthropy and Economic Development: New Roles and Strategies," Economic Development Quarterly, , vol. 33(3), pages 159-169, August.
    10. Ross Brown & Suzanne Mawson & Colin Mason, 2017. "Myth-busting and entrepreneurship policy: the case of high growth firms," Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 29(5-6), pages 414-443, May.
    11. Michael Porter, 1994. "The Role of Location in Competition," International Journal of the Economics of Business, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 1(1), pages 35-40.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Yasuyuki Motoyama & Susan Clark Muntean & Karren Knowlton & Banu Ozkazanc-Pan, 2021. "Causes of the gender divide within entrepreneurship ecosystems," Local Economy, London South Bank University, vol. 36(3), pages 187-204, May.
    2. Allison Bramwell, 2021. "Inclusive innovation and the “ordinary†city: Incidental or integral?," Local Economy, London South Bank University, vol. 36(3), pages 242-264, May.
    3. Silvia Landa & Elisha Y Sanoussi & Ezechiel Mahamane & Kairou Oudou Bilo Mahamadou & Aaron Salzberg & Darcy M Anderson, 2025. "Resource allocation for environmental health services in healthcare facilities: A qualitative case study from Niger," PLOS Water, Public Library of Science, vol. 4(2), pages 1-22, February.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Anna Kochenkova & Rosa Grimaldi & Federico Munari, 2016. "Public policy measures in support of knowledge transfer activities: a review of academic literature," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 41(3), pages 407-429, June.
    2. Lauren Lanahan, 2016. "Multilevel public funding for small business innovation: a review of US state SBIR match programs," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 41(2), pages 220-249, April.
    3. Devarakonda, Ramakrishna & Reuer, Jeffrey J. & Tadikonda, Harsha, 2022. "Founder social capital and value appropriation in R&D alliance agreements," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(4).
    4. Baldwin, Carliss Y. & Bogers, Marcel L.A.M. & Kapoor, Rahul & West, Joel, 2024. "Focusing the ecosystem lens on innovation studies," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 53(3).
    5. David B. Audretsch & Taylor Aldridge & Alexander Oettl, 2006. "The Knowledge Filter and Economic Growth: The Role of Scientist Entrepreneurship," Papers on Entrepreneurship, Growth and Public Policy 2006-11, Max Planck Institute of Economics, Entrepreneurship, Growth and Public Policy Group.
    6. Shen, Huijun & Coreynen, Wim & Huang, Can, 2022. "Exclusive licensing of university technology: The effects of university prestige, technology transfer offices, and academy-industry collaboration," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(1).
    7. van Dijk, Jasper & Leendertse, Jip & Stam, Erik & van Rijnsoever, Frank, 2025. "The entrepreneurial ecosystem clock keeps on ticking – A replication and extension of Coad and Srhoj (2023)," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 54(2).
    8. Shimizu, Hiroshi & Wakutsu, Naohiko, 2026. "Stimulating spin-outs and stalled subsequent technological development: Laser diodes in the United States and Japan under the SBIR program," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 223(C).
    9. Leendertse, Jip & Schrijvers, Mirella & Stam, Erik, 2022. "Measure Twice, Cut Once: Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Metrics," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(9).
    10. Heeyong Noh & Sungjoo Lee, 2019. "Where technology transfer research originated and where it is going: a quantitative analysis of literature published between 1980 and 2015," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 44(3), pages 700-740, June.
    11. Christian Fisch & Tobias Hassel & Philipp Sandner & Joern Block, 2015. "University patenting: a comparison of 300 leading universities worldwide," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 40(2), pages 318-345, April.
    12. Albert N. Link & Christopher J. Ruhm, 2013. "Bringing science to market:commercializing from NIH SBIR awards," Chapters, in: Public Support of Innovation in Entrepreneurial Firms, chapter 1, pages 3-24, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    13. Maksim Belitski & Ana-Maria Grigore & Anca Bratu, 2021. "Political entrepreneurship: entrepreneurship ecosystem perspective," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 17(4), pages 1973-2004, December.
    14. Alessandra De Chiara, 2025. "What is a circular entrepreneur? Understanding entrepreneurs’ experiences in order to support the circular economy," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 21(1), pages 1-35, December.
    15. Bessagnet, Arnauld & Crespo, Joan & Vicente, Jérôme, 2021. "Unraveling the multi-scalar and evolutionary forces of entrepreneurial ecosystems: A historical event analysis applied to IoT Valley," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    16. Yuan-Cheih Chang & Phil Yihsing Yang & Tung-Fei Tsai-Lin & Hui-Ru Chi, 2011. "How University Departmens respond to the Rise of Academic Entrepreneurship? The Pasteur's Quadrant Explanation," DRUID Working Papers 11-07, DRUID, Copenhagen Business School, Department of Industrial Economics and Strategy/Aalborg University, Department of Business Studies.
    17. Vera Barinova & Stepan Zemtsov & Alla Sorokina, 2015. "Role of SMEs in regional innovation systems in Russia," ERSA conference papers ersa15p600, European Regional Science Association.
    18. Leendertse, Jip & van Rijnsoever, Frank & Oostveen, Brendan, 2025. "Ecosystems cast a shadow: How high-quality entrepreneurial ecosystems hamper productive entrepreneurship in neighboring regions," Journal of Business Venturing Insights, Elsevier, vol. 23(C).
    19. Quoc Hoang Thai & Khuong Ngoc Mai & Tung Thanh Do, 2023. "An Evolution of Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Studies: A Systematic Literature Review and Future Research Agenda," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(1), pages 21582440231, March.
    20. Honjo, Yuji & Nakamura, Hiroki, 2020. "The link between entrepreneurship and informal investment: An international comparison," Japan and the World Economy, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:sae:loceco:v:35:y:2020:i:2:p:155-164. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: SAGE Publications (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.lsbu.ac.uk/index.shtml .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.