Overall, the US is ranked 7th (beat by Canada, among others), China comes in 8th, and Greece is ranked the lowest . (Ratings are on a scale of 1-7.) The GEW Policy Survey collected responses this summer from 109 countries. Respondents were a little less than 2/3 male, and almost 77 percent owned a business (with the rest planning to start one within a year). They rated 12 statements about regulation, access to resources, and entrepreneurial environment on a scale of 1-7 (4 being neutral). The countries above all had at least 20 responses. Here is how American entrepreneurs ranked the country on various factors:
Registering a business is clear and easy: 4.9 (ranked 10th)Officials regulating businesses are competent and honest: 4.2 (10th)Competition operates in compliance of law: 4.8 (11th)Tax laws are not impediments to development: 3.6 (19th)Intellectual property law protects theft inside country: 4.7 (6th)Courts resolve disagreements: 4.5 (7th)Entrepreneurs with strong records can obtain funding: 4.5 (4th)Businesses have access to energy, transportation, and networks: 4.8 (5th)Businesses can hire workers with knowledge, skills, and abilities: 4.4 (12th)Entrepreneurs have access to advisors and mentors: 5.3 (4th)National economic conditions are conducive to development: 4.8 (7th)People have high regard for entrepreneurship: 5.1 (2nd)
For all countries, business registration and public official honesty got the lowest average scores, and availability of mentors got the highest average score. There’s also a correlation between statements, particularly within a category (regulation, resources, or environment) – which means that as one area of the startup scene improves, others do as well. Global Entrepreneurship Week, co-created and co-sponsored by the Kauffman Foundation, is in its sixth year. This week’s celebration will include thousands of events and competitions in 140 countries around the world, including policy discussions.
