The Knowledge Spillover Theory of Entrepreneurship

38 Pages Posted: 4 Jan 2006

See all articles by Zoltan J. Acs

Zoltan J. Acs

Schar School of Policy and Government

David B. Audretsch

Indiana University Bloomington - School of Public & Environmental Affairs (SPEA)

Pontus Braunerhjelm

Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) - Department of Infrastructural and Urban Planning (INFRA); Örebro University - Swedish Entrepreneurship Forum

Bo Carlsson

Case Western Reserve University - Department of Economics

Date Written: November 2005

Abstract

Contemporary theories of entrepreneurship generally focus on the decision-making context of the individual. The recognition of opportunities and the decision to commercialize them is the focal concern. While the prevalent view in the entrepreneurship literature is that opportunities are exogenous, the most prevalent theory of innovation in the economics literature suggests that opportunities are endogenous. This paper bridges the gap between the entrepreneurship and economic literature on opportunity by developing a knowledge spillover theory of entrepreneurship. The basic argument is that knowledge created endogenously via R&D results in knowledge spillovers. Such spillovers give rise to opportunities to be identified and exploited by entrepreneurs. Our results show that there is a strong relationship between knowledge spillovers and new venture creation.

Keywords: Opportunity, management science, entrepreneurship, knowledge

JEL Classification: J24, M13, O3, R1

Suggested Citation

Acs, Zoltan J. and Audretsch, David B. and Braunerhjelm, Pontus and Carlsson, Bo, The Knowledge Spillover Theory of Entrepreneurship (November 2005). CEPR Discussion Paper No. 5326, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=873614

Zoltan J. Acs

Schar School of Policy and Government ( email )

Founders Hall
3351 Fairfax Dr.
Arlington, VA 22201
United States
703-993-1780 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://home.ubalt.edu/zacs

David B. Audretsch (Contact Author)

Indiana University Bloomington - School of Public & Environmental Affairs (SPEA) ( email )

1315 East Tenth Street
Bloomington, IN 47405
United States

Pontus Braunerhjelm

Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) - Department of Infrastructural and Urban Planning (INFRA) ( email )

SE-100 44 Stockholm
Sweden
+46 8 790 9114 (Phone)
+46 8 411 7436 (Fax)

Örebro University - Swedish Entrepreneurship Forum ( email )

Södra Kungstornet
Kungsgatan 33, 7tr
Stockholm, 11156
Sweden

Bo Carlsson

Case Western Reserve University - Department of Economics ( email )

Cleveland, OH 44106
United States

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