America's Most Ambitious Cities

Real Clear Politics ^ | 5/7/2009

[SeekAndFind]

What do you do when there are no jobs to be had in your industry? For some Americans it seems the answer is to follow your ambition and simply make one for yourself, according to a recent study released by the Kauffman Foundation, the Kauffman Index of Entrepreneurial Activity.* In 2008, despite the economic recession that took hold in the last three months of the year, the percentage of Americans starting businesses increased slightly over 2007, moving from .30% to .32%. On the state level, Georgia, Montana and New Mexico all demonstrated comparatively high rates of entrepreneurship—each with more than 500 people per 100,000 starting new businesses in 2008. The rate of entrepreneurial activity proved higher still in the country’s largest metropolitan areas. Click through to see America’s Top 10 Most Entrepreneurial Cities.

1. Washington, D.C.

Population: 5,358,130

2008 Kauffman Foundation Index of Entrepreneurial Activity: .30%*

The government sector isn’t the only place to find work inside the beltway. Though rates of entrepreneurship have stayed stagnant in D.C. over the past couple of years, the city still made its way into the top 10, with 300 people per 100,000 starting a business in 2008. *This number represents that 300 people per 100,000 have started buisnesses in 2008.

2. Houston, Texas

Population: 5,728,143

2008 Kauffman Foundation Index of Entrepreneurial Activity: .34%

The rate of entrepreneurship went up greatly in Texas overall from 2007 to 2008, but it wasn't due to Houston, where the figure has stayed flat at 340 people out of 100,000 over the past three years.

3. Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas

Population: 6,300,006

2008 Kauffman Foundation Index of Entrepreneurial Activity: .42%

[SeekAndFind]

CLICK ABOVE LINK FOR THE REST

[Red in Blue PA]

“Washington, D.C. Kauffman Foundation Index of Entrepreneurial Activity: .30%*”

Pray tell what products are made in Washington DC?

Please, inquiring minds want to know.

[nmh]

I am HIGHLY doubtful that GOVERNMENT isn't playing a HUGE ROLE in Washington, D.C. being high in entrepreneurship. The government gives out money like candy to certain sectors of our society and I believe THAT is why D.C. is being rated highly in this article.

[cripplecreek]

Ann Arbor has the lowest unemployment rate in Michigan but the highest number of taxpayer funded jobs.

It doesn’t take a math wiz to figure out the taxpayer funded jobs are a net loss unless those employees pay more in taxes than they make per paycheck.

[US Navy Vet]

“Kauffman Foundation” who the H*LL is that?

[Buckeye McFrog]

there are mutual funds out there that are no longer rating companies by their balance sheets, or debt-equity ratios, or any other traditional economic measurements, but by the AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT THEY SPEND ON LOBBYING! We have really gone thru the looking glass here.

[meandog]

Pray tell what products are made in Washington DC?

Methamphetamine and Methane--one comes from an illegal laboratory, the other from the hind end of a bull!

[ClearCase_guy]

Beat me to it!

I would definitely expect that the Washington DC entreprenerial class is engaged in either A) selling political influence [aka corruption] or B) selling drugs.

[nmh]

You are right .... .

[Hop A Long Cassidy]

It appears that this study is biased towards areas attracting low-wage immigrants who start small businesses like lawn cutting or maid service. There should have been some kind of minimum revenue figure before a business/entrepreneur was counted.

If you look for it, the charts by ethnic group clearly show the deleterious effect of recent immigration on blacks, somewhat on whites, and little on Asians.

[q_an_a]

Here is what is on the web site. Kauffman survey reveals a stark and fundamental gap between the national policy agenda and the attitudes and beliefs of the American people. The survey reveals that the public feels strongly that the government should be doing more to encourage individuals to start businesses and create jobs, which is ultimately the long-term solution for the country’s economic woes.

This sounds like he/they thinks like most conservative writers and leaders. Kauffman was owner of KC Royals and a medial products company.

As to the study favoring low wage areas - I must have missed this in the cities of Dallas and Houston that are in the top three. But I would doubt that congressmen becoming lobbyists qualify for a start up business.

[Hop A Long Cassidy]

>>>As to the study favoring low wage areas - I must have missed this in the cities of Dallas and Houston that are in the top three. But I would doubt that congressmen becoming lobbyists qualify for a start up business.

I believe a large part of their survey can be explained by immigration—both legal (the increase in Asian businesses) and illegal (the increase in Hispanic businesses and the drop in blacks and level nature of white businesses). It’s quite clear in one of their charts.

[q_an_a]

My neighbor is a Korean born citizen, living here since he was 8and he is a popular achitect. Some of his businesses are multi location asian restaurants. I imagine that at some point his products would show up on this study. Good models for business will always find a market and good immigrants will live the dream.

This neighbor told me a year ago, it would be better if instead of bailing out the companies the government gave every citizen the $10,000 per citizen they gave AIG and GM and let them - the people - decide if they want to invest in those companies or pay down their own debts. That would ahve been a real stimulation to the economy. Today KIA/Hundyi are brands working people can afford and are buying. If GM had changed their products 6-8 years ago they might have solved a few of their problems.

Of course it is also clear that Saturn was a good product, matching the quality of the foreign cars - so why did it not get better support and why is the government trying to kill it?

The answers to this and other questions will be solved when real TEA Party leaders step up and take back our country...from the Washington elites both elephant and donkey.

[weef]

Go TX! We have 2 of the top 3.