News

The reciprocal relationship between entrepreneurship and contextual conditions plays an important role in rural development. The article argues in favour of a micro-perspective based on practice theory in order to understand how entrepreneurial practices and the rural context are interlinked.

In the current edition of our Zahlen & Fakten (facts & figures) series on the economy in rural areas, Christian Bergholz analyzes the spatial distribution of innovative start-ups. There are significant regional differences in the frequency with which start-ups are founded.

The personalities of entrepreneurs are as diverse as the industries in which they operate. The research results show that the personality trait "conscientiousness" plays a greater role among craftsmen and craftswomen than in other economic sectors.

In light of current global challenges, such as social and environmental problems (e.g., climate change, mobility, energy, employment, health, aging), a deeper understanding of the wider systemness of innovation, or “multi-system innovation”, is needed to foster the emergence and implementation of…

From February 16 to 21, the annual Winter Seminar of the German-speaking section of the European Regional Science Association (GfR), took place in Matrei in East Tyrol. Over six days, participants engaged in intensive academic discussions against the picturesque backdrop of the Austrian Alps.

The 26th annual meeting of the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) took place in Bilbao from 17 to 20 February 2025. Christian Bergholz represented the German country team there together with Natalia Gorynia-Pfeffer (RKW Eschborn).

The symposium on start-ups in rural areas, co-organized by WI, took place in Loccum from 6 to 7 February. Over 60 participants listened to numerous contributions from science and practice and discussed empirical findings and political options for action at a high professional level.

On her third day in office, the newly appointed President of the Thünen Institute, Prof. Birgit Kleinschmit, found time for her first visit to the Institute of Rural Economics. At the end of the day together, it was clear that everyone was looking forward to working together in the future!

In a study recently published in the journal Regional Studies Damiaan Persyn and co-authors investigated the impact of transport infrastructure on regional economic growth.

In a study recently published by the Journal of Regional Science, Damiaan Persyn and co-authors examine the spatial structure of regional trade and the substitutability of goods flows between regions.