ABSTRACT
Business creation and the encouragement of an entrepreneurial culture have become fundamental topics for politicians, economists, and academics in all countries. This interest is based on the existing evidence that new businesses contribute to job creation, political and social stability, innovation, and economic development (Schumpeter 1934; OECD, 1998; Wennekers and Thurik 1999; Audretsch and Thurik 2001; Reynolds et al. 2000, 2002). Different samples, including countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), over different time periods have attained consistent results; increases in entrepreneurial activity tend to result in subsequently higher growth rates and in a reduction of unemployment (Audretsch and Thurik 2001). For the purposes of this chapter, entrepreneurship is viewed as the identification and creation of new economic opportunities combined with decision-making on the location and the resources to be used in the activity (Wennekers and Thurik 1999).
