Difference between revisions of "Entrepreneurship and the 2016 Election (Blog Post)"

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{{McNair Projects
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{{BlogPost
|Project Title= Entrepreneurship and the 2016 Elections
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|Has title= Entrepreneurship and the 2016 Election (Blog Post)
|Topic Area= Policy, Regulation, and Entrepreneurship
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|Has author= Dylan Dickens
|Owner= Dylan Dickens
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|Part of series=Election 2016
|Start Term= Summer 2016
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|Has content status= Published
|End Term= Summer 2016
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|Has Graphics status=Approved
|Status= In Writing
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|Has blog image=
|Deliverable= Blog Post
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|Has publication date=September 26 2016
|Audience= General Public
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|Has processing notes=
|Skills Needed= Writing I
 
|Keywords= Clinton, Trump, Election, Entrepreneurship, Small Business, Healthcare, Immigration, Regulation, Policy, Obamacare, Afforable Care Act
 
|Primary Billing= Dr. Edward Egan
 
 
}}
 
}}
  
==Abstract==
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The relative absence of entrepreneurship in election rhetoric from either party is disappointing. Job creation, protecting jobs, and getting the most out of the labor force are frequent topics of discussion.
  
:After a powerful 60-40 victory over fellow Democratic nominee Bernie Sanders in Puerto Rico this past Monday, supplemented with an additional wave of support from super-delegates, [http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/06/politics/hillary-clinton-nomination-2016/ CNN] declared Hillary Clinton the presumptive nominee for the Democratic party. She now joins presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump on still highly-contested and now highly predictable November 2016 presidential ballot. Over the course of the election, both presumptive candidates have remained, for the most part, silent and non-committal on the topics of small business and entrepreneurship policy.
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However, both candidates have surprisingly little to say about entrepreneurship, the largest net creator of jobs in the United States.
:In light of this information deficit, growing concerns over the future of entrepreneurship have been amassing, as demonstrated at the Kauffman Foundation's 2016 State of Entrepreneurship [http://www.gvhlive.com/gvh-daily/2016/2/23/is-entrepreneurship-at-risk-in-the-2016-election Address]. While specific candidate platforms have not been announced in regards to entrepreneurship, three of the main policy areas discussed in the election; Health Care, Immigration, and Economic Regulation, all directly relate to the prosperity of an American entrepreneurship ecosystem. Through an analysis of Clinton and Trump's statements in these three topic areas, a better understanding of the potential post-2016 futures of entrepreneurship may come to light.
 
:Health Care regulation, specifically the [Affordable Care Act|Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act], also known as "Obamacare," has been accused of [http://www.investors.com/liberal-study-finds-obamanomics-killed-the-american-entrepreneur/ "killing"] small business. A 2012 [http://www.gallup.com/poll/152654/health-costs-gov-regulations-curb-small-business-hiring.aspx Gallup] poll of small business owners found that nearly half of small business owners point to potential healthcare costs (48%) and government regulations (46%) as reasons why they are NOT hiring new employees. In spite of this survey, the 2009-2015 head of the Congressional Budget Office, [http://obamacarefacts.com/obamacare-small-business/ Douglas Elmendorf], and [http://obamacarefacts.com/obamacare-small-business/ John Arensmeyer], founder and CEO of the Small Business Majority, have both released statements questioning any long-term negative affects of the Affordable Care Act and have even suggested that there will be benefits. Little conclusive evidence has been found one way or  the other.
 
:Immigration has been highlighted by the [http://sbecouncil.org/2014/07/21/entrepreneurship-immigration-reform-and-the-economy/ Small Busi
 
  
==References==
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Why is Entrepreneurship Policy Important?
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The American economy relies on entrepreneurship. Micro and macro economists agree that it has resounding positive economic effects. Entrepreneurship has also been linked  to non-economic benefits such as community development, social change, and an increase in egalitarianism. It is not hard to see why Entrepreneur magazine says entrepreneurs represent the “backbone of America.”
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U.S. entrepreneurship has two major categories. One is high-tech, high-growth industry like the kind seen in Silicon Valley or on Massachusetts Route 128. The other is the small to medium-sized enterprises owned by self-employed Americans.
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The 2008 recession caused a dip in U.S. entrepreneurship, disproportionately affecting these small firms. These enterprises experienced a drop of nearly 150,000 less than 1-year-old businesses between 2008 and 2010. High-tech, high-growth firms experienced a dip as well. Venture capital dropped from roughly 4,000 deals a year to 3,500 in the same period.
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U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows that both high-tech firms and small to medium-sized businesses now approach pre-2008 levels. Venture capital investment in high-growth, high-tech firms has nearly doubled. According to PricewaterhouseCoopers data, aggregated investment dollars totaled $30 billion in 2013 compared to roughly $60 billion in 2015.
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Pew Research Center polling show an overall desire by the public to engage in entrepreneurial activities. The poll indicates 71% and 68% favorability rates for small businesses and tech firms respectively. Smart public policy is critical to harness this popular support and immense economic power.
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Entrepreneurship in the 2016 Election
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Discussions of entrepreneurship have been largely absent from the election. Many of the policy issues that have been discussed could indirectly impact entrepreneurship, especially those concerning economic regulation, immigration, and healthcare. Policies focused on areas adjacent to entrepreneurship, including capital investments, STEM research, and high-tech education, are also important.
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However, a primary focus should be on getting capital directly into entrepreneurship markets. Competitive capital is crucial - government money is sometimes invested in startups that are unlikely to succeed, which leads to a “crowding-out” effect. The government should invest along side competitive, returns-focused capital to promote the development of America's high-tech high-growth industry and its small business economy.
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[[Category:Entrepreneurship Policy]]

Latest revision as of 11:28, 27 March 2017


[[File:|300px|frameless|center]]
Blog Post
Title Entrepreneurship and the 2016 Election (Blog Post)
Author Dylan Dickens
Series Election 2016
Content status Published
Publication date
Notes
Image
© edegan.com, 2016


The relative absence of entrepreneurship in election rhetoric from either party is disappointing. Job creation, protecting jobs, and getting the most out of the labor force are frequent topics of discussion.

However, both candidates have surprisingly little to say about entrepreneurship, the largest net creator of jobs in the United States.

Why is Entrepreneurship Policy Important?

The American economy relies on entrepreneurship. Micro and macro economists agree that it has resounding positive economic effects. Entrepreneurship has also been linked to non-economic benefits such as community development, social change, and an increase in egalitarianism. It is not hard to see why Entrepreneur magazine says entrepreneurs represent the “backbone of America.”

U.S. entrepreneurship has two major categories. One is high-tech, high-growth industry like the kind seen in Silicon Valley or on Massachusetts Route 128. The other is the small to medium-sized enterprises owned by self-employed Americans.

The 2008 recession caused a dip in U.S. entrepreneurship, disproportionately affecting these small firms. These enterprises experienced a drop of nearly 150,000 less than 1-year-old businesses between 2008 and 2010. High-tech, high-growth firms experienced a dip as well. Venture capital dropped from roughly 4,000 deals a year to 3,500 in the same period.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows that both high-tech firms and small to medium-sized businesses now approach pre-2008 levels. Venture capital investment in high-growth, high-tech firms has nearly doubled. According to PricewaterhouseCoopers data, aggregated investment dollars totaled $30 billion in 2013 compared to roughly $60 billion in 2015.

Pew Research Center polling show an overall desire by the public to engage in entrepreneurial activities. The poll indicates 71% and 68% favorability rates for small businesses and tech firms respectively. Smart public policy is critical to harness this popular support and immense economic power.

Entrepreneurship in the 2016 Election

Discussions of entrepreneurship have been largely absent from the election. Many of the policy issues that have been discussed could indirectly impact entrepreneurship, especially those concerning economic regulation, immigration, and healthcare. Policies focused on areas adjacent to entrepreneurship, including capital investments, STEM research, and high-tech education, are also important.

However, a primary focus should be on getting capital directly into entrepreneurship markets. Competitive capital is crucial - government money is sometimes invested in startups that are unlikely to succeed, which leads to a “crowding-out” effect. The government should invest along side competitive, returns-focused capital to promote the development of America's high-tech high-growth industry and its small business economy.