Entrepreneurship, Jobs and Recovery Top the List
Kauffman's most popular research in 2009 explored past recession trends and
entrepreneurs' roles in economic recoveries
The most popular studies emanating from the nation's largest funder of entrepreneurial research are largely related to the top story of the year: the economy. The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation has compiled its most in-demand research for 2009--research that was mentioned in news stories generating more than 5 billion media impressions. Data on economic recovery trends, job creation and the role of entrepreneurs are among the Foundation's most quoted, requested, viewed and downloaded studies in 2009.
As a leading source of economic data for researchers, economists, academics and policymakers, the Foundation issues dozens of published reports and original videos throughout the year.
In 2009, some of the most in-demand reports from the Kauffman Foundation were:
- Where Will the Jobs Come From showed that newly created and young companies are the primary drivers of job creation in the United States.
- Timely Entrepreneurship Indicators unveiled the first indications of how the economic slump has impacted entrepreneurship in the United States and 11 other countries in 2008 and most of 2009.
- The Economic Future Just Happened found that more than half of the 2009 Fortune 500 companies were launched during a recession or bear market, along with nearly half of the 2008 Inc. list of America's fastest-growing companies.
- The Coming Entrepreneurship Boom found that the United States might be on the cusp of an entrepreneurial boom-not in spite of an aging population but because of it.
- Right-Sizing the U.S. Venture Capital Industry suggests that the VC industry needs to shrink to be an economic force.
"Because we are the 'foundation of entrepreneurship,' our work is done through the lens of how firm formation and expansion affect the economy," said Robert Litan, vice president of research and policy at the Kauffman Foundation. "Our research consistently shows that young firms are the driving force of new jobs and growth. This information is obviously more important than ever, and we will be releasing more data on these topics in 2010."
A compilation of Kauffman research over the past two years also demonstrates the critical role entrepreneurs play in the economy.
