University of Essex

School of Entrepreneurship & Business

PhD Students

Aysun Yildiz-Ozer
[Thesis: Explaining regional entrepreneurial framework conditions across the UK]

Aysun Yildiz-Ozer started her PhD studies with the School of Entrepreneurship and Business in 2005. She held a Masters degree in European Integration from University of Kent at Canterbury, UK (with Jean Monnet Scholarship).

e: ayildi@essex.ac.uk

Year of Entry

October 2005

Supervisors

Prof Jay Mitra and Dr Bill Gleave

Sponsorship

University of Essex

Doctoral research outline

This research aims to explain the reasons behind wide and persistent differences across the regions in terms of their level of entrepreneurial activities as well as their contribution to the regional economy by conducting an empirical study in the UK regions. Entrepreneurship has come into prominence especially during the 1980s, and its positive impact on the regional economic performances led researchers to investigate the location-specific factors that make certain regions more entrepreneurial hence economically more dynamic. The research aims to look at the regional framework conditions facilitating/hindering entrepreneurial activities in localities by looking at less researched factors in the literature, like social-cultural determinants and institutional framework that condition the entrepreneurial opportunities and means to exploiting them at regional level. Taking spatial approach, and relying on literature on entrepreneurship, new economic geography we aim to address the main research questions. At the end of the research we aim to come up with some policy recommendations formulated by taking into account the location specific factors to enhance entrepreneurial potential of the regions.

Publications

Ozer, A (2006) ‘Regional Sources of Creativity and Entrepreneurship’ paper presented at the 6th International Entrepreneurship Forum 2006 31st August - 2nd September 2006 ( Riga , Latvia )  New Venture Creation and the Creative Trajectory: Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Creativity in Business

Ozer, A (2006) ‘Impact of new-firm formations on regional economic performances’ Conference Paper prepared for 29 th Institute for Small Business & Entrepreneurship Conference, 31st October 2nd November 2006, Cardiff, UK International Entrepreneurship