4 ms·

It would be really hard to pin the causality of something like this... some of the most 'entrepreneurial' places in the US are some of the 'bluest' areas

bobthechef 5y ago
Right, but this correlation with "blueness" is, I think, accidental and doesn't account for small businesses. For example, I would expect more small local businesses in red states than blue states. The tech sector will favor large corporations because of the magnitude of investment involved, at least traditionally (if we are to believe the "economies of scale" explanation; some challenge it, but at the very least, it is causally relevant). So you might see more startup entrepreneurship in blue states because that's where the tech expertise is already concentrated. And because those in tech tend to have college degrees at higher rates, and colleges tend to encourage neoliberal and left-leaning views, you should expect to see more tech in blue states because of that, so you have a self-reinforcing process (there are of course other considerations). But I wouldn't attribute entrepreneurship to the presence of social programs. On the one hand, those who need social programs are not going to be very educated and are most likely going to be much more interested in making basic ends meet over some business venture. On the other hand, once they receive social benefits, they are often not very motivated to try to start a small local business like a food cart either since they have food on the table. So you need to appeal to cultural factors to account for motivation as well.
throwaway0a5e 5y ago
> some of the most 'entrepreneurial' places in the US are some of the 'bluest' areas I'm not sure how you reach this conclusion. "Screw this I'm starting my own business" is far, far more common in the blue collar world than the white collar world and they tend to vote way redder.
- softwaredoug 5y ago
  You could be right, I am thinking of California, but that's a very tech-centric position and I admit to my bias.
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
analog31 5y ago
How does this correlate with the population of educated people, and people whose spouses have health coverage? Red / Blue does correlate to education level. There could be other correlations as well, including having the technical ability to create something of marketable value, management experience from a previous job, a certain level of financial / career security, family members willing to invest, etc. Blue areas may also be slightly more prosperous, creating a local market of customers (people and businesses) with money.

bobthechef 5y ago

Right, but this correlation with "blueness" is, I think, accidental and doesn't account for small businesses. For example, I would expect more small local businesses in red states than blue states. The tech sector will favor large corporations because of the magnitude of investment involved, at least traditionally (if we are to believe the "economies of scale" explanation; some challenge it, but at the very least, it is causally relevant). So you might see more startup entrepreneurship in blue states because that's where the tech expertise is already concentrated. And because those in tech tend to have college degrees at higher rates, and colleges tend to encourage neoliberal and left-leaning views, you should expect to see more tech in blue states because of that, so you have a self-reinforcing process (there are of course other considerations). But I wouldn't attribute entrepreneurship to the presence of social programs. On the one hand, those who need social programs are not going to be very educated and are most likely going to be much more interested in making basic ends meet over some business venture. On the other hand, once they receive social benefits, they are often not very motivated to try to start a small local business like a food cart either since they have food on the table. So you need to appeal to cultural factors to account for motivation as well.

throwaway0a5e 5y ago

> some of the most 'entrepreneurial' places in the US are some of the 'bluest' areas I'm not sure how you reach this conclusion. "Screw this I'm starting my own business" is far, far more common in the blue collar world than the white collar world and they tend to vote way redder.

softwaredoug 5y ago
You could be right, I am thinking of California, but that's a very tech-centric position and I admit to my bias.
deleted 5y ago
[deleted]

analog31 5y ago

How does this correlate with the population of educated people, and people whose spouses have health coverage? Red / Blue does correlate to education level. There could be other correlations as well, including having the technical ability to create something of marketable value, management experience from a previous job, a certain level of financial / career security, family members willing to invest, etc. Blue areas may also be slightly more prosperous, creating a local market of customers (people and businesses) with money.