EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - Benchmark for the Municipal Business Climate

Benchmark for the Municipal Business Climate

Introduction

Entrepreneurs in the Dutch cities rate the urban business climate at around 6.5 on average. An earlier rising trend between 1999 and 2002 did not carry through, but rather took a downward curve.

Description

What do entrepreneurs in the 30 largest Dutch cities think about the business climate in which they work and how do the cities score in this area? In the covenants made between the state and the 30 large cities in 1999, the Ministry of Economic Affairs agreed to follow developments in the entrepreneurs’ assessment of the business climate over time. This was done by means of the Benchmark for the Municipal Business Climate.

The benchmark assesses the goals of the Policy on Large Cities. By testing on three occasions, the study gives an insight into the quality of the business climate, the changes herein and the underlying factors. So-called best-practices in the Policy on Large Cities are also highlighted.

Conclusions

Appreciation of the overall business climate is adequate throughout.
There is particular appreciation for the immediate business environments, facilities and residential environment.
There is a less positive assessment of economic policy, service provision and communications with the municipalities.
Besides the improvements in physical space factors, municipalities are focusing on the business environment, entrepreneurship and cluster formation.
The municipalities are mobilising to improve the communications and service provision but individual entrepreneurs are difficult to reach.
Cities that have seen a substantial growth in their economic affairs department, score better than the zero measurement in 1999.

Contact info

ECORYS Nederland BV

Publication date

02/05/2005

Researcher

ECORYS Netherlands

Links

ECORYS Nederland BV Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs

Benchmark gemeentelijk ondernemersklimaat (PDF, Dut, 2.1 MB)

Benchmark gemeentelijk ondernemersklimaat Appendix (PDF, Dut, 780 KB)

Document type

research

Themes

Urban Policy > Economy knowledge & employment > Urban economy

Keywords

Business support