ABSTRACT
In order to better understand the distinguishing features of entrepreneurship in China, it is useful to gain a clear understanding of who are China's entrepreneurs, what kinds of enterprises they operate, and in which parts of the country entrepreneurial activity is concentrated. This chapter examines the demographic profile of entrepreneurs in China, and identifies the main generational cohorts of Chinese entrepreneurs. It also compares entrepreneurs and non-entrepreneurs, and examines the key industries in which private enterprises operate. In doing so, the chapter scrutinises the contribution made by private enterprises to creating employment in different industrial sectors. The chapter examines regional disparities in entrepreneurial activity across China. A large proportion of the growth in the private sector has occurred in urban areas of the country, as migrants from rural areas migrate to the cities in search of job opportunities.
