Category Archives: 2026

Prosperous places: Processes, policies, and practices

Christof Brandtner, Olav Sorenson, and Maryann Feldman

Prosperous places provide more than just high levels of economic output. They also promote the well-being of their residents and ensure equitable access to community resources and opportunities. Prosperous places—picture Copenhagen, Melbourne, or Vienna—balance economic growth with social equity. Most communities, however, remain marked by stark inequalities. We examine the processes, policies, and practices that foster prosperity, a more equal distribution of resources and opportunities within places: diverse organizational demographics, shared ownership structures, spatial and social integration, and cross-sector inclusive governance. We call for reimagining prosperity as a collective achievement—one shaped by deliberate choices that distribute benefits widely rather than deepening divides.

Industrial and Corporate Change, 35(1): 186-205 (OPEN ACCESS)

Entrepreneurship and gentrification

Luisa Gagliardi and Olav Sorenson

How do startups influence the neighborhoods in which they locate? Using data from the Greater London area, we find a positive association between growth-oriented entrepreneurship and both demographic and organizational changes in these communities. Older, less-educated residents are replaced by young, more-educated ones. Restaurants become more expensive and more diverse. We also demonstrate that growth-oriented entrepreneurship predicts a subsequent rise in residential real estate prices. This price appreciation, however, does not seem to benefit long-term residents, as property values increase primarily in areas with high rates of renting. The gentrification of neighborhoods experiencing startup entry calls for deeper reflection on the role of entrepreneurship in inequality and the sustainability of entrepreneurial ecosystems.

Organization Science, 37, 1-16 (OPEN ACCESS)