ECONOMIC-INTEGRATION AND NEW FIRM FORMATION - BRITAIN IMPACT ON IRISHENTERPRISE

The paper examines the impact of economic integration on enterprise in a small open economy. The paper analyses large, small and total new c ompany registrations in Ireland, It examines the impact: of spill-over s from the United Kingdom labour and product markets on Irish firm for mation. The study finds that negative labour market spill-overs domina te positive product market spill-overs so that a net negative effect r esults from Irish - British economic integration. The results indicate that enterprise in peripheral economies may be more vibrant if produc t market integration is introduced before labour market integration. T he paper also finds enterprise to be positively affected by the number of university graduates in the labour force. House prices are found t o have a net negative impact on enterprise.