Are Regional Entrepreneurs in Disadvantage? Lessons from Chile

The present paper deals with the perceptions about market conditions and public policies related to enhance entrepreneurial activities at regional levels. This is the first academic research at regional level in Chile and one of the few in Latin America to study this issue. The main results seem to indicate that entrepreneurs who are peripherally located perceive their regions as in a worse position than centrally located entrepreneurs in terms of entrepreneurial framework conditions. However, the results surprisingly indicate that peripheral entrepreneurs perceive more business opportunities in comparison to those located in core regions. This research revives the debate about specific regional policies for fostering the growth of local business, and the entrepreneurial framework conditions needed at regional level for emerging Latin-American economies