Entrepreneurship in America

Challenges and Opportunities

Lisa Abraham, Benjamin K. Master

Expert InsightsPublished Mar 11, 2021

This Perspective describes recent trends in entrepreneurial activity in the United States, such as the formation of new businesses and their share of job creation. The trends show that entrepreneurial activity is declining and that the United States lags most other Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries. The authors highlight the challenges and opportunities that new and existing small businesses face as a result of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic and frame further avenues for research that would be valuable as U.S. policymakers seek to support these firms in the wake of recent massive disruption to the economy.

This research agenda reflects a deeper investigation of factors that are correlated with entrepreneurial success and how such factors may be cultivated and replicated more broadly. It would be of interest to those seeking to understand how best to support entrepreneurship and promote economic opportunity.

Topics

Document Details

Citation

RAND Style Manual
Abraham, Lisa and Benjamin K. Master, Entrepreneurship in America: Challenges and Opportunities, RAND Corporation, PE-A1141-1, March 2021. As of September 10, 2024: https://www.rand.org/pubs/perspectives/PEA1141-1.html
Chicago Manual of Style
Abraham, Lisa and Benjamin K. Master, Entrepreneurship in America: Challenges and Opportunities. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2021. https://www.rand.org/pubs/perspectives/PEA1141-1.html.
BibTeX RIS

Research conducted by

Funding for this research was provided by gifts from RAND supporters and income from operations. The research was conducted within the RAND Lowy Family Middle-Class Pathways Center with RAND Education and Labor.

This publication is part of the RAND expert insights series. The expert insights series presents perspectives on timely policy issues.

This document and trademark(s) contained herein are protected by law. This representation of RAND intellectual property is provided for noncommercial use only. Unauthorized posting of this publication online is prohibited; linking directly to this product page is encouraged. Permission is required from RAND to reproduce, or reuse in another form, any of its research documents for commercial purposes. For information on reprint and reuse permissions, please visit www.rand.org/pubs/permissions.

RAND is a nonprofit institution that helps improve policy and decisionmaking through research and analysis. RAND's publications do not necessarily reflect the opinions of its research clients and sponsors.