TY  - RPRT
        AU  - Schwidrowski, Zuzana Brixiova
AU  - Égert, Balázs
        TI  - Entrepreneurship, Institutions and Skills in Low-Income Countries
        PY  - 2017/Apr/
        PB  - Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)
        CY  - Bonn
        T2  - IZA Discussion Paper
        IS  - 10704
        UR  - https://www.iza.org/index.php/publications/dp10704
        AB  - This paper develops a model of costly firm creation in an economy with weak institutions, costly business environment as well as skill gaps where one of the equilibrium outcomes is a low-productivity trap. The paper tests the implications of the model using a cross-sectional dataset including about 100 countries. Both theoretical and empirical results suggest that to move the economy into a productive equilibrium, complementarity matters: reforms to improve the business environment tend to be more effective in creating productive firms when accompanied by narrowing skill gaps. Similarly, more conducive business regulations amplify the positive impact on firm creation of better education and reduced skill mismatches. To escape a low-productivity trap, policymakers should thus create a pro-business framework and a well-functioning education system.
        KW  - model of start-ups and strategic complements
KW  - institutions
KW  - education
KW  - low-income countries
KW  - threshold regression
        ER  -