1. ¹Department of Business Studies, Aalborg University, Aalborg Ø, Denmark
2. ²Yale School of Management, New Haven, CT, USA

Correspondence: Michael S Dahl, Aalborg University, Fibigerstræde 4, Aalborg Ø DK-9220, Denmark. Tel: +45 9940 8268; Fax: +45 9815 3505; E-mail: md@business.aau.dk

Abstract

Using comprehensive data on the Danish population, this paper examines the determinants of entrepreneurs' choices of where to locate their new ventures. Our findings suggest that entrepreneurs place much more emphasis on being close to family and friends than on regional characteristics that might influence the performance of their ventures when deciding where to locate those businesses. Two factors could explain our findings: On the one hand, entrepreneurs may simply value proximity to family and friends. On the other hand, these relationships may help them to assemble the assets and to recruit the personnel that they need to succeed in their ventures. Our results suggest that the former plays the greater role in entrepreneurs' location choices.