Small Firms, Business Services Growth and Regional Development in the United Kingdom: Some Empirical Findings

KEEBLE D., BRYSON J. and WOOD P. (1991) Small firms, business services growth and regional development in the United Kingdom: some empirical findings, Reg. Studies 25, 439–457. Since 1980, the United Kingdom has experienced very rapid growth in firms and employment in information-intensive business services. This paper documents the nature and extent of this growth, with particular reference to small and new firms in management consultancy and market research, and reviews its locational impact. Numbers of business service firms, most of which are small independent companies, have grown much faster than consumer service firms. Despite a significant death rate, many small businesses in these sectors have grown rapidly, as have very large firms. Business service growth has contributed powerfully to the UK's north–south divide, being focused on London and the outer South East. Possible causes of these trends and key future research issues are reviewed. KEEBLE D., BRYSON J. et WOOD P. (1991) Petites entreprise...

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