Entrepreneurial Inputs and Outcomes: New Studies of Entrepreneurship in the United States

by Gary D. Libecap

Overview

The performance of economies depends upon entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurs identify new opportunities, implement new technologies, provide new products and services, and generally, make an economy vibrant. Yet, little is understood of the institutional structure that supports entrepreneurship or of the economic and sociological factors that encourage entrepreneurial activity. The papers in this volume represent research on these issues. The material is relevant for both an academic and lay audience. Three papers by Kortum and Lerner; Thomas; and Ziedonis and Hall examine the US patent system and its relationship to venture capital, its impact on R&D expenditures and access to new technologies, and its affect on "patent portfolio races." Two others by Prasad, Vozikis, and Bruton, and Quadrini address financing issues, including the importance of private savings by entrepreneurs for self financing of new ventures and for signaling venture quality. Quadrini shows that entrepreneurs experience greater upward mobility than do others in the population. A related paper by Lowe explores the role and experience of start-ups in commercializing university inventions, a growing source of new technology. Kerkvliet and Shogren examine innovation in the institutions used by firms to obtain productive inputs. Two other papers by Roberson-Saunders and Holcombe examine the characteristics of entrepreneurs and the importance of entrepreneurial activity in the economy in the generation of new products, processes, and services and outlines policies for encouraging entrepreneurship. This collection of papers highlights the variety of issues associated with gaining a better understanding of entrepreneurship.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780762308224
Publisher:	Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Publication date:	11/16/2001
Series:	Advances in the Study of Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Economic Growth , #13
Edition description:	1 ED
Pages:	364
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.79(d)

Table of Contents

Introduction: entrepreneurial inputs and outcomes: new studies of entrepreneurship in the United States (G.D. Libecap). Does venture capital spur innovation? (S. Kortum, J. Lerner). Commitment signals in the interaction between business angels and entrepreneurs (D. Prasad et al.). Entrepreneurial financing, savings, and mobility (V. Quadrini). Collusion and collective action in the patent system: a proposal for patent bounties (J.R. Thomas). The effects of strengthening patent rights on firms engaged in cumulative innovation: insights from the semiconductor industry (R. Ham Ziedonis, B.H. Hall). The role and experience of start-ups in commercializing university inventions: start-up licencees at the University of California (R.A. Lowe). Minority and female entrepreneurship (P. Roberson-Saunders). The invisible hand and economic progress (R.G. Holcombe). Innovative upstream investments & input supply contracts (J. Kerkvliet, J.F. Shogren).