The survival of firms over the critical first 3 years and the local environment

The aim of this study was to examine the success of new firms in different environments and the factors affecting it. In this study the criterion of a successful firm is that of continued functioning, and firms are divided into two groups: those that have closed down and those that continue after the critical first 3 years. As the basis for a regional analysis the authors look first at the differences between these two groups in terms of the characteristics of firms and entrepreneurs. The regional distribution of the firms that closed down is then examined, followed by an analysis of the regional differences in the characteristics of all the firms and entrepreneurs studied. Regional differe…