Regional Differences and Determinants of Entrepreneurial Innovation — Empirical Results of an Austrian Case Study

Abstract

The changing macro-economic conditions accompanied by a changing international division of labour have led to reinforced entrepreneurial competition in industrialized countries since the early seventies and as a consequence speeded up industrial restructuring. In the course of this restructuring process many firms have tried to increase their competitiveness by taking one or more of the following strategies or measures (Massey and Meegan, 1982; Todtling, 1986; Stohr, 1987a):

• cost cutting measures such as the reduction/closure of unprofitable lines of production, the concentration of production into the more efficient plants within the enterprise, the relocation to cheaper locations, the introduction of a more efficient form of organizing production (‘intensification’) or the introduction of cost saving new technology;

• search for new markets via increased market penetration or extension, the modification of existing products or the introduction of new products;

• flexible adjustment to specific demands (e.g. subcontracting or ‘custom tailoring’).