Small Firms' Seedbed Role and the Concept of Turbulence
研究了独立小企业作为新企业苗圃的作用，提出了苗圃的可操作定义，测量了其在制造业中的分布，发现苗圃活动本质上是创新性的，而非加剧现有行业竞争，并据此提出小企业政策应更注重降低死亡率。
AN important role of independent small firms is often asserted to be to function as the 'seedbed' for new enterprises capable of challenging established businesses. The authors bring original data to bear on this, suggesting a workable definition of what constitutes a seedbed; measuring its industrial incidence; and defining the part played by independent firms in it. The study reveals substantial variation in the level of such activity among manufacturing industries. It is shown that seedbed activity is essentially innovative (the precursor of new industries) rather than a source of increased rivalry within existing industries. Conclusions are drawn about small firms policy, in particular that government aid for small business should be aimed more at reducing death rates among small firms.