Impact of locational characteristics on the clustering of ICT startups: an empirical study in the Netherlands

This thesis studies the effect of location factors on the creation of new ICT firms in the Netherlands. The focus of the location factors is on agglomeration economies present in the region. The paper links early theories of agglomeration and clusters with an analysis in the Netherlands. As The Netherlands has recently become the go-to location for a lot of technology startups according to some influential trend watchers, it makes this a timely and relevant study for policymakers. The paper uses 4 indicators of agglomeration economies. As a result, this paper finds that the establishment of a new ICT firm is affected by the macroeconomic factors of the region, its specialization in the manufacturing sector and the level of competition present in the region. By analyzing these factors, the result can be useful for policymakers when managing the regulation on new startups.