|
If you have problems viewing this email go to http://www.publicforuminstitute.org/nde/news/nde-news.htm |
|
|
|
|
Week of May 26 - June 1, 2008 |
|
|
Blogging on Entrepreneurship and Economic Growth
Thousands of bloggers trot out their latest
theories and thoughts about economics or entrepreneurship on an ongoing
basis. Surprisingly, however, a rare few seem to focus on the ties that
bind the two together. A new entry into the blogosphere by the Ewing
Marion Kauffman Foundation aims to fill that gap, examining the linkages
between economics and entrepreneurship from a policy point of view.
Dedicated to the full range of topics surrounding entrepreneurship,
growthology.org will serve as a
platform to share thoughts and ideas to enhance faster economic growth,
greater individual opportunity, smart government policy, and the
expansion of human welfare. Authored by two economists at the Kauffman
Foundation, growthology.org
will mix short essays with observations on papers, books, speeches,
articles and more. Categories of content include such topics as “jobs of
the future,” “the evolution of cities” and “law and entrepreneurship.”
|
|
|
Farm Bill Contains New Research and Rural Entrepreneurship Supports
Congress has finally
completed action on the 2007 Farm Bill. The legislation was vetoed by
President Bush, but an override of his veto is expected. The package,
(H.R. 2419, H. Rpt. 110-627) contains several small provisions that
could expand Federal support for rural entrepreneurs. New research
funding programs received a boost. The Agriculture and Food Research
Initiative—authorized to spend up to $700 million per year---will
provide competitive grants to universities and other organizations doing
research in high-priority areas. Research spending for biofuels and
renewable energy also receives a big boost of $1 billion in new funds.
The bill funds a new $15 million Rural Entrepreneur program that will
provide low cost loans (of up to $50,000) to establish small businesses
in rural areas. It also authorizes a new Rural Collaborative Investment
Program that will aid rural regions in developing new collaborative
economic development strategies. Finally, the bill authorizes several
new and existing regional development authorities. Specifically, the
bill provides authorization for the Delta Regional Authority, the
Northern Border Regional Economic Development Commission, the Northern
Great Plains Regional Authority, the Southeast Crescent Regional
Commission, and the Southwest Border Regional Commission. |
|
|
Entrepreneurship and Higher Education
European universities need to get more
serious about “infusing entrepreneurship across the curriculum.” In
other words, they must do more to ensure that entrepreneurship training
is provided to all students, not just those who seek a business degree.
A new report from an Experts Group charted by the European Commission
provides a useful state of play for how European universities are faring
in this mission. The report finds that most European nations lack a
sufficient base of well-trained entrepreneurship instructors, and they
also fail to find ways to engage current or former entrepreneurs as
instructors or trainers. In general, universities need to move away from
traditional teaching methods and embrace experience-based approaches
that more effectively teach entrepreneurial skills and mindsets. The
report does not recommend a single “cookie cutter” approach as it
recognizes the need for local innovation and specialization. However, it
does recommend that all European member states and the Commission place
a higher priority on supporting entrepreneurship education initiatives.
|
|
|
New Tools to Understand Your Entrepreneurial Economy
Last week, the Edward Lowe Foundation
unveiled a new website that provides a very useful picture of America’s
entrepreneurial economy. YourEconomy (www.youreconomy.org)
is a web-based database that allows users to gain a better understanding
of the composition of entrepreneurial firms in their communities. Users
can track companies by broad categories and then see the stage of these
local firms--from start-up to relative stability as an established
company. The site, which will be further expanded this summer, uses the
relatively new NETS (National Establishment Time Series) database, which
is in turn based on information developed by Dun and Bradstreet. |
|
|
Britain’s Tories Release Small Business Platform
While Americans are consumed with their
ongoing Presidential campaign, politics is also heating up in Great
Britain. Recent Labor Party losses in local elections have emboldened
the Conservative Party, which has recently released several detailed
policy proposals. One of the latest efforts focuses on small business.
The report of a party Task Force examines how Great Britain can reform
and streamline current public support programs for small business.
According to the study, Britain is now home to 3,000 different business
support programs run by 2,000 public bodies at an annual cost of £2.5.
billion (approximately US $4.9 billion). The report recommends a major
streamlining of these efforts, as well as a renewed commitment to
rigorous evaluation of program outputs and outcomes. In particular, it
recommends the creation of a single web-based Business Information
Service that would provide needed information to business owners. The
report also recommends new approaches to expanding small business
finance resources as well as a new government research investment
program modeled on the US’s Small Business Investment Research (SBIR)
efforts. Finally, the report calls for an expansion of youth
entrepreneurship education programs. |
|
|
Small Business Ombudsman Models
Many states, localities, and even the
Federal government, through the Small Business Administration (SBA) have
created a new post of the Small Business Ombudsman. This individual or
office exists to serve as a troubleshooter and advocate for small
businesses who face unfair regulatory burdens or who are facing other
challenges when it comes to interacting with government agencies. In an
effort to encourage more states and localities to adopt this model, the
SBA has published a guide to creating a Small Business Ombudsman effort.
This useful guide includes model legislation as well as case studies for
how these offices have worked elsewhere in the US. The report is very
useful guide for any government officials seeking to promote
transparency and provide more open communications with small business
owners. |
|
|
The National Dialogue on Entrepreneurship is an initiative of the Public Forum Institute made possible by a grant from the Kauffman Foundation of Kansas City. Through NDE-news, we bring you short summaries and analyses of various trends driving entrepreneurship around the world. Subscribe now to receive your weekly copy. Archived issues are available online. |
|
|
|
National Dialogue on Entrepreneurship
|
|
All
stories © 2008 The Public Forum Institute
|
|
