There is currently renewed policy focus on ‘levelling-up’ economic performance across Great Britain’s regions and nations. Heterogeneous historical regional economic experiences lead to questions over the need for policy differences and trade-offs, and roles of regional, versus national level, policies in the longer term. This paper examines, using panel fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA), combinations of education and human capital, entrepreneurship, and economic activity conditions driving economic development differences across local authorities in Great Britain. Analysis identifies three and six condition-based pathways for the presence and absence of high local economic development (LED), respectively, absence pathways having a particular geographical focus. This identifies different sets of regions, where disadvantage is ‘deep-rooted’ (and non-traditional policymaking is needed), advantage is long-established, or where policy is most likely to make a positive difference. It also identifies a need to tailor policy according to the pathway(s), rather than assuming homogeneous approaches are appropriate. Finally, exemplar regions offer case studies of how future policy can assist movement from absence to presence of high LED.

This study uses a novel application of panel fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) in the international management field. utilizing a unique database capturing reasons for foreign direct investment (FDI), and state-level location, we explain location decisions of high-technology South Korean (henceforth Korean) multinational enterprises (MNEs), when first entering the United States of America (henceforth US), from 1995 until the 2008 financial crisis. Various home country conditions, combined with a desire for technological upgrading, encouraged firms to seek locational advantages. Additionally, rather than assuming FDI to be driven by a single purpose over time, the addition of regional characteristics allows a typology of reasons for Korean FDI to be developed. We show evolving Korean FDI trends in the US with home country and regional perspectives interacting to attract FDI into US states with different characteristics, arguing this is consistent with US policy seeking to attract inward investment to foster economic development.

This study offers a novel country-level longitudinal investigation of conditions, including, income, urbanity, education, R&D, and entrepreneurial activity, driving international trade, for imports and exports. The configurational (clustering) approach places emphasis on country and year groupings, offering ‘targeted’ understanding on country level variations of international trade in cultural goods. The study explores context sensitive conditions affecting international trade in cultural goods, including environment for entrepreneurship, and entrepreneurial processes. Emphasis is given to configurational considerations of clusters of country-year observations based on conditions. Inferences inferred will be country groups-based perspectives. Using UIS and GEM datasets, fuzzy c-means clustering is employed for economic development-related conditions measuring, income, urbanity, education, R&D, and entrepreneurial activity, to establish clusters of country-year observations, based on differences in the condition values describing them. These clusters are defined to give qualitative understanding of their individuality. Validation of clusters is undertaken with consideration of differences on levels of international trade of cultural goods, in terms of forms of imports and exports. To complement the validation, cluster profiling is undertaken, with consideration of population age and poverty levels. The study contributes increased understanding concerning drivers (conditions) of trade in cultural goods, and impact of entrepreneurship in both imports and exports.

Lecture Capture (LC) material is accepted to be an available and accessible resource for students in universities across the world. This exploratory study investigates the 'when viewing' LC material engagement of accounting undergraduate students. Three categories of engagement are defined, Near-Event-Viewing (NEV), Get-Round-to-Viewing (GRV) and Revision-Time-Viewing (RTV). The understanding of NEV, GRV and RTV, is tested by presenting different perspectives of how the categories are formulised. Comparative results on levels of engagement with LC material and impact on performance show differences between students across the different years of study. For example, for final year students, NEV of LC material has a noticeable positive impact on performance, compared with other viewing categories (GRV and RTV). The scale of these differences is also dependent on the considered perspective formulisation of the 'when viewing' LC material categories, acknowledging the caution necessary if/when universities formulise such 'when viewed' thinking on their available LC material.

This study conceptualizes graduate entrepreneurship as a spatial phenomenon. Specifically, we explore how combinations of university-related (knowledge exchange intensity and entrepreneurship support) as well as regional conditions (economic prosperity and entrepreneurial culture) might explain the presence or absence of high graduate entrepreneurship as possible (or likely) explanations based on a configurational approach. We applied fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to a dataset using HE-BCIS (Higher Education-Business Community Interaction Survey) survey and the UK's ONS (Office for National Statistics) data for England covering a five-year period, combined with map-based analysis to identify distinct pathways that explain the presence or absence of graduate entrepreneurship across different regions. Findings demonstrate that university-related and regional conditions can complement each other in different ways to explain high levels of graduate entrepreneurship, but absence of one can also suppress the effect of the other, resulting in the absence of high graduate entrepreneurship.

Taking an evolutionary economic geography perspective, we build on literature on innovation modes, the aim of this study being to explain variations in SME innovation performance across European regions over time. Drawing on five waves of data from the EU Regional Innovation Scoreboard between 2011 and 2019, our sample includes 221 regions across 27 EU Member States, as well as Norway, UK, Serbia, and Switzerland. We apply nascent panel fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis to explore how different combinations of SME innovation modes explain innovation performance across different EU regions (i.e. geographical scope) as well as within different EU regions over time (i.e. temporal stability). Findings show that whether DUI or STI modes are more effective in the context of SMEs crucially depends on the timeframe considered, but also the geographical location of SMEs. The study offers novel insights into the diverse and complex nature through which regional innovation evolves over time, advancing understanding on regionalization as well as temporality of SME innovation modes in Europe. It also provides an important basis for discussing innovation policy across Europe.

This study aims to empirically examine whether alternative combinations of economic and institutional conditions influence access to sanitation, drinking water and electricity services in Ghana using fuzzy clustering and regression analysis. Drawing on secondary data from 2021, five clusters of local government districts are identified: big, wealthy urban districts; rural, poor districts; middling districts; small districts and badly managed districts. The cluster membership scores for all districts are included in hierarchical regressions predicting access to sanitation, drinking water and electricity services. The main findings from this analysis are that big, wealthy, urban districts are associated with good infrastructure, whereas rural, poor districts and badly managed districts are associated with weak infrastructure access. To distribute infrastructure services more widely, initiatives addressing the economic disadvantages experienced by poor, rural communities and efforts to improve local public administration quality are needed.

Innovation is a component of economic development, with an emphasis on entrepreneurship and small business activity. This longitudinal study evaluates innovation readiness drivers across European regions. The following research questions are posed: What are the sets of innovation drivers in Europe? What is their relative importance? How do they differ between regions over time? The study uses principal component analysis (PCA) and the constellation graph index approach. Three principal component drivers of innovation are identified: innovation system, absorptive capacity, and IP protection. The aggregation of component details reveals an innovation readiness dimension for each European region in a specific year. Variations in results for different years are discussed. The study covers a large number of countries. Innovation readiness across regions is examined. The results show that constituent innovation driver variables contribute to performance over time. Different patterns are revealed for high and low innovation regions. The relationships between innovation drivers are evaluated.

Using a 2019 data set, 236 regions across 26 European countries are investigated, focusing on four, interlinked, conditions of potential relevance to SME innovation, specifically measures focused on levels of human capital, internal firm innovation, innovation collaborations and broader knowledge collaborations between public and private sectors. The methodology applied uses a configurational approach to elucidate relationships, specifically fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) to evaluate how these conditions affect sales of new-to-market and new-to-firm innovations as a percentage of total turnover for SMEs in each region against the EU 2019 average (NMFS). In addition to existence of the classic 'core' region 'innovation ecosystem' recipe, having presence of three of the four conditions (in-house innovation being non-relevant), analysis reveals innovation policy may require specific tailoring in certain types of regions. This suggests greater collaboration is required to overcome more extensive absence of other parts of the Regional Innovation System, in-house innovation required to overcome lack of education alone. The main contributions of the research are to generate a more comprehensive evaluation of the complexity of innovation at the regional level, graphical 'map' based elucidation of findings also contributing to establishing a baseline for future analysis for European regions' SME-innovation performance.

PurposeThe paper shows how small firms perceive the pathways through which access to and adoption of superfast broadband-enabled resources strengthen business performance. Improvements to broadband infrastructure do not automatically lead to adoption of opportunities made available through the broadband resource. Then, interventions can be used to alert small firms to new opportunities. However, the quality of interventions in terms of education and digital audits can be better targeted with information available on how small firms perceive the benefits from broadband access and whether these perceptions are reflected in business performance outcomes.Design/methodology/approachData are used from the Digital Maturity Survey from Wales. The study uses principal component analysis and a dual stage cluster approach to show how SMEs believe they are benefitting from broadband access. These belief-based perceptions of broadband inferred business benefits are tested against business performance variables.FindingsThe analysis shows variation in SME perceptions of the benefits of broadband-enabled services. This study reveals a cluster of firms which perceived routes to business value in terms of variables linked to security and risk management, and then more commonly held notions linked to communication, competition enhancement and productivity.Originality/valueWhile the research literature points to Information and Communication Technology (ICT) resources (ICT investment and skills) and use (digital applications), leading to new to business value improvements, this study suggests less work has sought to identify the critical themes identified by business owners in explaining how ICT resources and use tie to observed business performance. The study identifies these critical themes. The analysis suggests that these critical themes in terms of business value benefits as perceived by business owners can be summarised in terms of communication and competition benefits, and security and risk related benefits. The findings have a series of implications for interventions in the space.

Despite evidence of substantial differences in business exit rates across countries, understanding of the institutional conditions contributing to those differences is still incomplete. Methodological limitations have left considerable gaps in our understanding of business exit, due to the dominance of regression models that capture institutional conditions in isolation, but fall short of identifying complex combinations of conditions. Using Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) data and a fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) of a sample of 54 case countries, we utilize a configurational approach to examine how different combinations of regulatory, normative and cultural-cognitive institutional conditions lead to variations in business exit rates across countries at different stages of economic development. Further, we identify distinct recipes leading to business exit that are associated with the presence or absence of high business exit rates across countries. The study contributes to institutional theory as well as the business exit literature not only by discussing which combinations of institutions determine when exit is beneficial and detrimental to the economy, but also which specific combinations apply across sets of countries.

This article examines the variation in the level of use of information and communication technologies by national bodies of labour administrations across 81 different countries. Extending empirical research on the state of information and communication technology use, it introduces a prototype index of country-level information and communication technology use. The index allows for the exposition of the contributions of sub-dimensions of information and communication technology use, including labour inspection, public employment services and labour dispute prevention and settlement. Graphical evidence showing sub-index and final index formulations for individual countries is given, along with graphical evidence of the country-level ranking and geographical variations of information and communication technology use (including the sub-dimensions of this use). The future potential of the prescribed approach is demonstrated by offering possible explanations behind the results on a sample of countries.

Dans le présent article, nous examinons la variation dans le niveau d’utilisation des technologies de l’information et de la communication par les organes nationaux des administrations du travail dans 81 pays différents. Nous poussons plus loin la recherche empirique sur la situation de l’usage des technologies de l’information et de la communication pour présenter un prototype d’indice de l’usage des technologies de l’information et de la communication au niveau national. Cet indice permet de faire apparaître les contributions des sous-dimensions de l’usage des technologies de l’information et de la communication, comme l’inspection du travail, les services publics pour l’emploi et la prévention et le règlement des conflits du travail. Nous présentons des graphiques montrant les formulations des sous-indices et de l’indice final pour chaque pays, ainsi que des données graphiques montrant le classement par pays et les variations géographiques de l’usage des technologies de l’information et de la communication (y compris les sous-dimensions de cet usage). Nous illustrons le potentiel futur de l’approche prescrite en proposant des explications possibles des résultats sur la base d’un échantillon de pays. Remarques à l’intention des praticiens En ces temps où les administrations publiques du monde entier sont poussées à proposer aux citoyens davantage de produits et services basés sur les technologies de l’information et de la communication, les décideurs politiques, les acheteurs publics de solutions technologiques et les fournisseurs de programmes d’assistance en matière de technologies de l’information et de la communication devraient avoir accès à des boîtes à outils leur permettant d’évaluer et de comparer l’utilisation des nouvelles technologies dans les organisations publiques et entre celles-ci. Dans le présent article, nous offrons aux praticiens une telle perspective en proposant cet outil. En utilisant des données mondiales sur l’utilisation des technologies de l’information et de la communication dans le domaine de l’administration du travail, nous mettons en évidence son potentiel pour construire des indices de l’usage des technologies de l’information et de la communication dans certains domaines du service public.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) are tasked with driving economic recovery globally, in terms of contribution to economic growth. Understanding the determinants of SME innovation is essential in clarifying this phenomena. This study investigates the link between SME strategies and intention to undertake future innovation, using Federation of Small Businesses data. The analysis employs the novel N-State Classification and Ranking Belief Simplex (NCaRBS) technique, investigating relationships between changes in SME strategies, including staffing levels, importing/exporting and client base, and future (including uncertain) innovation intentions. NCaRBS can analyse an incomplete data set, with missing values in the considered characteristic variables, without the need to manage their presence. NCaRBS can also generate results providing insights into SME behaviour regarding strategy and innovation, while also increasing learning about potential reasons behind SMEs uncertainty regarding innovation intention. The study provides novel perspectives into how SMEs develop innovation intentions and the strategies required to support/exploit such intentions, of value to academia, enterprise support agencies and policymakers.

Local enterprise partnerships (LEPs) were introduced by the UK government in 2010 to promote local economic development. There is, however, a minimal pre-LEP baseline analysis concerning aspirations of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in LEP geographies. Employing Federation of Small Businesses 2010 data gathered before LEP policy activities began. This study examines growth and innovation intention of SMEs in LEP-defined areas. The analysis demonstrates how key internal SME strategic focus areas of staffing levels, training investment, research and development and online presence support their growth and innovation intentions. Results from fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis demonstrate that SMEs’ growth and innovation intentions and strategic areas that drive these intentions differ substantially between LEP-defined regions. This study contributes to knowledge providing baseline data outlining objectives and strategic foci of SMEs in different LEP areas, allowing LEPs to effectively evaluate programmes aligned with the requirements of their SMEs, potentially informing future policymaking.

This study offers a novel evaluation of the conditions for Total Entrepreneurial Activity (TEA) and Entrepreneurial Intention (EI) across 59 Sub-Saharan African regions. The analysis employs fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis using Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (2013) survey data using five condition variables, measuring regional-level entrepreneurial attitudes and perceptions, including education level, considered against TEA and EI. This novel regional contribution identifies diversity between African countries and regions for entrepreneurial activities and its drivers, with several groups identified. This highlights a requirement for future research encompassing further countries and regions in African, and also multi-year studies that can track these issues longitudinally. The study informs knowledge and practice regarding entrepreneurial behaviour across African regions. Through examination of the different combinations of condition variables, across causal recipes, it provides understanding of variations in the socio-cultural drivers of entrepreneurial activity between regions, groups of regions, and countries, for TEA and EI.

Third Stream Activity (TSA) is increasingly important to UK universities and the wider economy, through innovation and entrepreneurship. Using data from the 2009/2010 UK Higher Education Business and Community Interaction Survey, this study investigates UK universities' TSA. Through considering the data in original and logged forms, two interpretations of TSA are investigated, in relation to entrepreneurial and enterprising university concepts. Using principle component analysis (PCA) on both data forms, four factors relating to universities' TSA are identified. A nascent indexing approach is employed to create sub-indexes using the identified factors, weight aggregated to produce final TSA indexes (one for each form of the data). Comparisons are then made between rankings of universities using the two versions of TSA index, and sub-indexes, illustrating differences utilising the entrepreneurial and enterprising university concepts. Important questions are raised for future government policy in terms of promoting interventions that drive towards different TSA types.

This study considers roles played by dimensions of entrepreneurship, innovation, and geography on United States (US) state level growth, unemployment, and income employing Fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analyses (fsQCA). One important developmental feature of the analyses is the use of a novel fuzzy membership score creation process, undertaken to calibrate the considered condition and outcome variables. Moreover, fuzzy cluster analyses are undertaken, using the fuzzy c-means technique, on sets of constituent variables to produce sets of clusters interpretable to the relevant condition and outcome variables. A series of fsQCA investigations are undertaken across the different outcome variables of growth, unemployment, and income. The fsQCA results offer novel insights into variations in the US state level based outcome variables, and how dimensions of entrepreneurship, innovation, and the urbanity-diversity of the states contribute to this. The novel applied and technical developments offer expanding ideas on this area of research.

Pour la première fois dans le contexte de Dubaï et du Golfe en général, la présente étude élabore un concept de leadership intégré du secteur public en tant que concept global et aux multiples facettes. Le leadership du secteur public regroupe huit rôles de leadership public qui sont décrits dans la littérature récente, tels qu’ils sont exercés par des gestionnaires de tous les niveaux de la hiérarchie gouvernementale. Ces huit rôles de leadership public sont les suivants : imputabilité, respect des règles, loyauté politique, gouvernance en réseau, leadership axé sur les tâches, sur les relations, sur le changement et sur la diversité. Les données sont recueillies au moyen d’une enquête menée auprès de plus de 900 travailleurs dans des organisations gouvernementales de Dubaï. Les observations de l’analyse empirique indiquent que la performance des gestionnaires en matière de leadership intégré du secteur public a une influence considérable sur le bonheur du personnel, tel que mesuré par la satisfaction au travail et la performance autoévaluée. Remarques à l’intention des praticiens Le leadership du secteur public comprend un ensemble intégré de rôles propres au contexte du secteur public, ce qui le distingue du leadership dans d’autres contextes. Tel qu’il est perçu par les travailleurs, le leadership au sein des organisations gouvernementales à Dubaï est, cependant, similaire au leadership au sein des organisations gouvernementales dans les démocraties occidentales. Les travailleurs indiquent que le leadership du secteur public a un effet positif sur leur bonheur, en ce qui concerne leur satisfaction au travail et leur performance autoévaluée.

This study, utilizes an innovative methodological approach, fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA), investigating the drivers of heterogeneous geographies characterizing English Local Economic Partnerships (LEPs). The fsQCA technique offers a novel configurational alternative to regression-based approaches investigating the effects of clustering in conjunction with firm-level innovation, university third-sector activity (TSA) and entrepreneurship, on LEPs innovation performance. The findings, offer contributions to the theories of industrial clusters and innovation, regional innovation systems, knowledge spillovers and entrepreneurial university innovation within LEPs. First, supporting fsQCAs, no individual variable generates either a positive/negative innovation outcome. Second, while all positive innovation recipes include presence of the cluster variable, for negative innovation recipes, only one does not identify absence of clustering as relevant. Given that the cluster variable does not appear in any recipes without at least one of the other variables suggests activity concentration does not exist in isolation to generate innovation outcomes without other localized conditions existing, e.g. firm-level innovation. Third, there is evidence for the non-cluster-based aspects of knowledge spillover theory of entrepreneurship with respect to university activity and the entrepreneurial university concept. Instead, roles of entrepreneurship and university TSA, while important, appear to be more peripheral and geographically context specific.