The relationship between entrepreneurial characteristics, firms' positioning and local development: an empirical survey

This paper aims to explain how the presence of entrepreneurs'specific subjective characteristics can influence a firm's strategicorientation and, as a consequence, local development. By analysingseveral subjective characteristics taken from a sample of 101 successfulentrepreneurs from southern Italy, certain issues emerge regarding the linkbetween the economic performance of the ventures launched in this areaand the weak level of growth. The research approach makes use of theGlobal Entrepreneurship Monitor conceptual model, which summarizesthe major causal mechanisms affecting national economic growth.