@misc{SarachukMisslerBehrHellebrand, author = {Sarachuk, Kirill and Mißler-Behr, Magdalena and Hellebrand, Adrian}, title = {Ultra High Speed Broadband Internet and Firm Creation in Germany}, series = {Innovations in Digital Economy : Second International Scientific Conference, SPBPU IDE 2020, St. Petersburg, Russia, October 22-23, 2020, Revised Selected Papers}, journal = {Innovations in Digital Economy : Second International Scientific Conference, SPBPU IDE 2020, St. Petersburg, Russia, October 22-23, 2020, Revised Selected Papers}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {Cham}, isbn = {978-3-030-84844-6}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-030-84845-3_3}, pages = {40 -- 56}, abstract = {Latest changes in broadband internet provision, as it was expected, will improve the life quality of millions of people around the world and will simplify the business routine, so that even new companies would be able to compete with well-established ventures. However, while there are numerous examples how modern digital infrastructure increases productivity or economic growth, very few papers try to link the availability of high-speed internet and the appearance of new firms. With our previous research at the municipality level in Brandenburg, we started to cover this research gap for the case of Germany. Our current study is focusing on possible effects of (ultra-)broadband provision on firm entry rates in 401 German administrative districts and independent cities. Results of our regression analysis demonstrate significance of basic broadband availability for the whole country (and very strong for less-urbanized administrative districts), while the ultra-high-speed connections have a weak and negative influence on new business formations. Hence, the advanced digital infrastructure does not seem like an important prerequisite for a better entrepreneurial milieu, at least in the case of Germany.}, language = {en} }