New-firm startup activity is examined within a framework pooling a cro
ss-section of 117 industries over six time periods between 1976 and 19
86. A model is introduced relating startup activity both to elements o
f the business cycle, in particular the macroeconomic growth rate, the
cost of capital, and the unemployment rate, and to industry-specific
characteristics, especially the technological conditions underlying th
e industry. The pooled cross-section regression results suggest that m
acroeconomic fluctuations as well as industry-specific elements contri
bute to startup activity. While new-firm startups respond positively t
o macroeconomic growth, they are promoted by a low cost of capital and
high unemployment rate. A somewhat surprising result is that new-firm
startups are not apparently deterred in capital intensive industries
and where R&D expenditures play an important role. The empirical resul
ts suggest that new firms may be able to overcome their inherent size
and experience disadvantages in such markets through exploiting univer
sity research and pursuing innovative activity.