The authors work a new mine of data with creativity and care. The result is a vast improvement in our understanding of the role of small business and innovation.
Richard R. Nelson, Professor of International Political Economy, Colombia University
First Acs and Audretsch established quite convincingly the appropriateness of two data sets, one on small firms' industries, employment and output and the other on thousands of innovations introduced in 1982 by firms of all sizes. Then they shake the earth. Every chapter knocks down many old beliefs and does so with a definitiveness that is uncommon in this line of study.
Leonard W. Weiss, Professor of Economics, University of Wisconsin, Madison
By showing the crucial contribution of small firms to the innovative process, the authors of this impressive research provide a welcome compliment to earlier works on the subject and deliver an important message to policy-makers: small is not just beautiful, but also a creative force for a dynamic economy.
Alexis Jacquemin, Professor of Economics, University de Louvain and European Commision
This book taps extraordinarily rich data to shed important new light on the strengths, limitations and implications of small firms' innovative activity.
F.M. Scherer, Professor of Business and Government, JFK, School of Government, Harvard University
