Global Entrepreneurship Monitor 2010 Executive Report

Abstract

With this report, the Global Entrepreneurship
\nMonitor (GEM) has completed 12 annual surveys of
\nthe entrepreneurial attitudes, activities and aspirations
\nof individuals around the world. Starting with
\njust 10 developed countries in 1999, GEM has grown
\nto include over 80 economies during the course of
\nthese 12 years. In 2010, over 175,000 people were
\nsurveyed in 59 economies. These 59 economies represent
\nnot only the largest sample yet, but also the
\nmost geographically and economically diverse group
\nsurveyed. Together, this group covers over 52% of the
\nworld’s population and 84% of the world’s GDP. The 2010 survey shows that, in the economies analyzed,
\nsome 110 million people between 18 and 64 years
\nold were actively engaged in starting a business. Another
\n140 million were running new businesses they started
\nless than 3½ years earlier. Taken together, some 250
\nmillion were involved in what GEM defines as earlystage
\nentrepreneurial activity. Out of these individuals,
\nan estimated 63 million people expected to hire at least
\nfive employees over the next five years, and 27 million
\nof these individuals anticipated hiring twenty or more
\nemployees in five years. This illustrates the contribution
\nof entrepreneurship to job growth across the globe. GEM takes a comprehensive snapshot of entrepreneurs
\naround the world, measuring the attitudes
\nof a population and the activities and characteristics
\nof individuals participating in various phases of
\nentrepreneurship. Also revealed are the aspirations
\nthese entrepreneurs hold for their businesses, along
\nExecutive Summary
\nwith other key features of their ventures. This effort
\nis accomplished through the collaborative work of
\na consortium of national teams consisting of academic
\nresearchers from across the globe. Each GEM
\nnational team oversees an annual survey of at least
\n2,000 adults. In addition, they consult with national
\nexperts on factors that can explain the nature and
\nlevel of entrepreneurship in their economies...