Environmental and Ownership Characteristics of Small Businesses and Their Impact on Development

摘要: Three neighborhood factors (crime, appearance, and transportation accessibility), other moderating influences (owner firm characteristics), are correlated to a small business owner's expectations of future growth. Survey data from 1,351 businesses the city county San Francisco were used. Crime appearance have significant (p=.001) correlation growth owners, but these two explain only very percentage (about 1 percent) variance in expectations. The ethnicity owner legal structure firm, type size also that significantly influenced owners' their businesses. Recommendations for changes public policy offered. This article explores relationship between characteristics business's location accessibility) Keeping established encouraging owners invest present locations would seem be one important way enhance economic social viability its neighborhoods (Gottlieb 1995; Imbroscio Miranda Rosdil Porter 1995). For example, (1995) suggests officials development agencies should consider as having distinct competitive advantages recognized enhanced attract retain within stipulates inner neighborhoods--such proximity high-value areas, local market demand, unique clusters specialized regional businesses, certain types human resources--offer located opportunities prosperity. However, he notes such cost land, building costs, re gulatory costs compliance, security disadvantages It is suggested here optimism (or pessimism) about sales will affect whether they undertake efforts or operations. Furthermore, it surmised investment decisions profound impact on where located. If there correlate with expectations, might possible cities those encourage neighborhoods. Improving could viewed stimulate growth, which lead further improvements Literature Review academic literature influencing appears diverse range entrepreneurship, urban studies, management journals. One view found this can influence all firms, well patterns. Bull Winter (1991) compared communities across wide environmental using Inc. magazine's measures births number fastest growing companies dependent variables. They birth negatively health care, environment, climate terrain, recreation, crime, positively location's college graduates, population mobility, unemployment. In study 365 northern New Jersey municipalities, Gottlieb aspects area, traffic, pollution, education, servi ces, had correlations density SIC 87 firms (engineering service) area. …