Interesting Article: Five Myths About Entrepreneurs

http://www.howwemadeitinafrica.com/five-myths-about-entrepreneurship/33502/

I thought this was an interesting read. It is from a contributor to Forbes who is the chair of the Forum’s Global Agenda Council on Fostering Entrepreneurship. The Article is also from a blog about doing business in Africa. I think the point they are trying to make is that people see how entrepreneurs grow jobs in the United States and try to emulate them to other economies and areas of the world and that doesn’t always work. There needs to be the proper setup for them to act like they do in the U.S. I think the comment on how there needs to be a focus on scaling and growing businesses instead of just helping people start them is also very interesting.

Entrepreneurship education makes a difference

This is an interesting (but long) article discussing the effects and impact of entrepreneurship programs in higher education.  This particular study focuses on programs in Europe, but the results could be useful to U.S. institutions, as well.  The results showed that entrepreneurship education makes a difference. Those who went through entrepreneurial programs and activities displayed more entrepreneurial attitudes and intentions, got a job sooner after finishing their studies, could innovate more even as employees in a firm, and started more companies on their own.

http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/sme/promoting-entrepreneurship/files/education/effects_impact_high_edu_final_report_en.pdf

 

Capital in the 21st Century

Interesting NYT article on Economist Thomas Piketty’s new book, “Capital in the Twenty-First Century” (available in English in March). Piketty argues that inequality will continue to widen in the coming century and he proposes an international wealth tax as a potential yet unlikely solution.

If his prediction comes true it will have an enormous impact on entrepreneurship. My thought is that if the status quo continues into perpetuity there will be more and more companies competing for fewer and fewer customers. With this in mind, an even greater percentage of new ventures will fail and Bankruptcy Lawyers will be among the few winners in the future economy. There also will be an expansion in the Luxury goods market.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/29/opinion/capitalism-vs-democracy.html?_r=0