Journal of Marketing Science ›› 2024, Vol. 4 ›› Issue (2): 80-99.

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How City Brand Development Impacts Entrepreneurship—Empirical Evidence from Civilized City Selection

Cui Dengfeng,Wang Nannan,Wang Haizhong   

  1. Cui Dengfeng, School of Economics and Management, Shihezi University;  Wang Nannan, School of Economics and Management,  Shihezi University; Wang Haizhong,School of Business, Sun Yat-sen University
  • Online:2024-04-16 Published:2024-11-28

Abstract: As the“golden signboard”of a city, city brand plays a pivotal role in attracting entrepreneurial investment while simultaneously fostering an environment conducive to nurturing the entrepreneurial through its cultural and environmental nourishment. However, scant research has explored the impact of city brand efforts on the entrepreneurial spirit from a city-level perspective. In light of this, the current study utilizes panel data from Chinese prefecture-level cities spanning 2008—2020, employing a multi-temporal difference-in-differences model to assess the impact of city brand development on the entrepreneurial. The findings reveal: (1) City brand development significantly contributes to the cultivation of the entrepreneurial spirit, a conclusion that withstands a series of robustness tests. (2) The enhancement of the entrepreneurial through city brand development is further facilitated by improvements in the business credit environment and the attraction of venture capital investments. (3) Environmental uncertainty and financial autonomy serve as boundary conditions for the influence of city brand development on the entrepreneurial. The positive effects of city brand development on the entrepreneurial are more pronounced under conditions of greater environmental uncertainty or higher levels of financial autonomy. (4) Compared to central regions, small cities, and megacities, the positive impact of city brand development on the entrepreneurial is more significant in eastern and western regions, medium-sized cities, and large cities. These conclusions offer theoretical support for governments to continue promoting city brand development and provide insights and guidance for entrepreneurs seeking to achieve business growth and value realization. 

Key words: city brand building, entrepreneurship, business credit environment, venture , capital, environmental uncertainty, financial autonomy