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The Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development
The Pennsylvania State University
7 Armsby Building, University Park PA 16802-5602
814/863-4656(phone); 814/863-0586(fax)
Please send questions and comments to:
nercrd@psu.edu

EntreCOP eXtension Resources

On the Road to an Entrepreneurial Economy: A Research and Policy Guide, by The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, February 2007.
Among the factors contributing to the success of the U.S. economy over the past decade—as reflected in the doubling of productivity growth compared to the preceding two decades—is the continued transformation of the U.S. economy toward a more entrepreneurial form of capitalism. In such a system, innovative new firms play an unusually central role in developing and commercializing the radical technologies that provide the underpinnings to whole new ways of doing things and enjoying life. In the last century, innovations which have changed the social and economic landscape in the United States and in much of the rest of the world such as the automobile, airplane, air conditioner, the personal computer and its operating system, and, most recently, many of the leading Internet-based business models, all were commercialized by entrepreneurs.
http://www.nercrd.psu.edu/EntreCOP/Entrepreneurial_Roadmap_web.pdf

From SSTI Weekly /digest:
Where America Stands: Entrepreneurship, February 2007, draws from dozens of other research papers, studies and articles to provide an overview of the current entrepreneurial climate in the U.S. In addition to pointing out some of the challenges presented by globalization, the paper cites others’ findings of many missed opportunities for even greater returns:
Only 10 percent of patents are commercialized (Lemelson-MIT Program); Only seven out of every 1,000 business plans receive external funding (Hill and Power, 2001); and, Sixty-six percent of VC investments occur in four regions of the country (Dow Jones VentureOne).

Regional inequality of successful entrepreneurship is singled out in Where America States as a great challenge and opportunity to increase the nation’s economic output. The paper calls attention to three approaches adopted by successful regions to encourage entrepreneurial growth: 1) creating angel investment networks; 2) leveraging knowledge assets; and, 3) catalyzing connectivity. http://www.compete.org/pdf/ew_deeper_dive.pdf

A World of Opportunity: Understanding & Tapping the Economic Potential of Immigrant Entrepreneurs from the Center for an Urban Future, February 2007.
During the past decade, immigrants have been the entrepreneurial sparkplugs of cities from New York to Los Angeles—starting a greater share of new businesses than native-born residents, stimulating growth in sectors from food manufacturing to health care, creating loads of new jobs, and transforming once-sleepy neighborhoods into thriving commercial centers. And immigrant entrepreneurs are also becoming one of the most dependable parts of cities’ economies: while elite sectors like finance (New York), entertainment (Los Angeles) and energy (Houston) fluctuate wildly through cycles of boom and bust, immigrants have been starting businesses and creating jobs during both good times and bad.
http://www.nycfuture.org/images_pdfs/pdfs/IE-final.pdf

The Sole Proprietor Research Information Pack by Laurence Goss, 2007.
A new study from Massachusetts makes an important point about the 21st century American economy: the self-employed are a major but underappreciated economic force. While most people recognize that self-employment is growing, they don’t know that many measures of state or local employment don’t count sole proprietors. Instead, they simply track those workers who are paid as employees. The report, by Salem State College’s Laurence Goss, details the numbers for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The report concludes that policymakers need to better understand the importance of this sector of the economy. They should also take steps to provide better support and encouragement to sole proprietors and other micro-business owners. Data and analysis on sole proprietors in Massachusetts are available from the Enterprise Center at Salem State College http://www.enterprisectr.org/soleproprietorresearchreport57.html

From the Annie E. Casy Foundation: Small Business Development Strategies
Practices to Promote Success among Low-Income Entrepreneurs by Kevin McQueen and John Weiser, Brody Weiser Burns, January 2007.
This paper discusses practices that community economic development professionals have found effective in helping residents of low income neighborhoods launch businesses. By way of background, many inner city economies show great vibrancy. The 100 fastest growing companies in underserved markets are growing at better than 50 percent per year. Many other businesses are also doing well. In 2005, 80 percent of inner city jobs were in small businesses. http://www.brodyweiser.com/pdf/Small_Business_Development_Strategies-final.pdf

The 2007 State New Economy Index, released by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) is now available.

2007 edition of the seminal State New Economy Index shows the extent to which each state is adapting to the maturation of the knowledge-based economy. This report outlines a progressive, innovation-oriented public policy framework designed to foster success in the new global economy. It discusses the following nine key strategies that states can employ:
Align Incentives behind Innovation Economy Fundamentals, Co-Invest in an Innovation Infrastructure, Co-Invest in the Skills of the Workforce, Cultivate Entrepreneurship, Support Industry Clusters, Reduce Business Costs without Reducing the Standard of Living, Boost Productivity,
Reorganize Economic Development Efforts, Enlist Federal Help
http://www.itif.org/files/2007_State_New_Economy_Index.pdf

From SSTI Weekly /digest:
The Determinants of New-firm Survival across Regional Economies, by Zoltan J. Acs, Catherine Armington and Ting Zhang, December 2006.
Abstract. Motivated by differences in new-firm survival across regions, this paper explores the impact of regional human capital on new-firm survival rates. New-firm survival is interpreted through formation rates of surviving versus closed firms in the service sector. By incorporating knowledge spillovers through a geographical variation model for Labor Market Areas, we empirically test the relationship between regional human capital stocks and new-firm survival. The expected positive relationship between regional human capital and new-firm survival is supported for the period 1993-1995, but is not as strong for the recession period 1990-1992. Controlling for human capital, the new-firm survival rate is negatively related to service sector specialization and positively related to all industry intensity, suggesting that city size and diversity may be an important determinant of new-firm survival in both periods.
ftp://papers.mpiew-jena.mpg.de/egp/discussionpapers/2007-04.pdf

State Tax Policy and Entrepreneurial Activity by Donald Bruce and John Deskins, November 2006.
Overall Findings. State tax policy, including both tax rates and the type of taxes in a state’s portfolio, has only a modest effect on aggregate state entrepreneurship rates.
http://www.sba.gov/advo/research/rs284tot.pdf

Crossover: How Artists Build Careers Across Commercial, Nonprofit and Community Work by Ann Markusen, Sam Gilmore, Amanda Johnson, Titus Levi and Andrea Martinez, October 2006.
This study argues that artists' ability to work comfortably in different sectors serves to stimulate a regional economy while enhancing artists' own artistic and professional development. http://www.haassr.org/html/resources_links/pdf/caCrossover.pdf

The Place-Based Structural Determinants and Effects of Self-Employment, final report to the E.M. Kauffman Foundation, RDP 33, Stephan J. Goetz, September 2006.
Abstract. This study expands on previous research by including a wider set of local economic and
community factors affecting non-farm entrepreneurship or self-employment than have
previously been considered. These factors affect both the rates of and returns to selfemployment
in US counties. In the county-level regression analyses, individual-level
socio-demographic variables capture the characteristics of the population pool from
which the self-employed are drawn. These individual-level factors are distinguished
from local county characteristics that affect self-employment or proprietorship formations.
Some of the latter variables are subject to policy influence while others serve as
controls that are not easily changed. While the literature on self-employment or proprietorship
formations is sizeable, empirical research on the returns to self-employment is
virtually non-existent. A major contribution of the present study is to reveal why the returns
to self-employment vary over space. http://www.nercrd.psu.edu/Publications/rdppapers/rdp33.pdf

Hello, My Business Name Is... A Guide to Building Entrepreneurial Networks in North Carolina by Erik Pages with Robert Albright and Rural EDS Partners, August 2006
This guide is designed to help entrepreneurs, business leaders, and community leaders who are seeking to create strong locally-based entrepreneur networks. It profiles several successful networks, and offers a how-to guide on building such networks. It is available on-line at: http://www.cednc.org/resources/reports_and_surveys/networks_guide.pdf

Office of Advocacy, US Small Business Administration, Women in Business: A Demographic Review of Women's Business Ownership, August 2006.
Focusing on the special characteristics of womenowned businesses and women’s economic well-being, this report provides newly released information on women in the work force and women-owned businesses, including women’s population statistics, their labor force participation, age, education, occupation, work schedules, average personal and household income, business ownership, and business dynamics. http://www.sba.gov/advo/research/rs280tot.pdf

Innovation and Growth in HIgh-Tech Sectors by Alex Coad and Rekha Rao, August 2006.
In this article, the authors compare innovation rates to sales growth for existing firms. They conclude that innovation is of vital importance to a handful of ‘superstar’ fast-growth firms in these fields, however, outside of this inner circle, inter-firm innovation is less important.  This article is available at: http://www.lem.sssup.it/WPLem/files/2006-18.pdf

Optimal Taxation of Entrepreneurial Capital with Private Information by Stefania Albanesi, August 2006.
Abstract. This paper studies optimal taxation of entrepreneurial capital with private information and multiple assets. Entrepreneurial activity is subject to a dynamic moral hazard problem and entrepreneurs face idiosyncratic capital risk. We first characterize the optimal allocation subject to the incentive compatibility constraints resulting from the private information. The optimal tax system implements such an allocation as a competitive equilibrium for a given market structure. We consider several market structures that differ in the assets or contracts traded and obtain three novel results. First, differential asset taxation is optimal. Marginal taxes on bonds depend on the correlation of their returns with idiosyncratic capital risk, which determines their hedging value. Entrepreneurial capital always receives a subsidy relative to other assets in the bad states. Second, if entrepreneurs are allowed to sell equity, the optimal tax system embeds a prescription for double taxation of capital income – at the firm level and at the investor level. Finally, we show that taxation of assets is essential even with competitive insurance contracts, when entrepreneurial portfolios are also unobserved. http://papers.nber.org/papers/w12419

From AEO News (July 18,2006):
FIELD forum Issue 17: Strategic Restructuring as a Scale-up Tool: The Case of MicroBusiness Development Corporation, May 2006, details how both merger and acquisition were used to expand product offerings, client base, and financial and organizational capacities to serve larger numbers of clients.  To download the FIELD forum Issue 17, please visit http://fieldus.org/Publications/FieldForum17.pdf
The Center for Social Development released a report, Using Individual Development Accounts for Microenterprise Development, by Fred M. Ssewamala, Margaret Lombe and Jami C. Curley, 2006, that examines the role of microenterprise development as an anti-poverty strategy in the United States. http://gwbweb.wustl.edu/csd/Publications/2006/WP06-08.pdf

Impact of Royalty Sharing Incentives on Technology Licensing in Universities by Saul Lach and Mark Schankerman, June 2006.
Abstract, Using data on U.S. universities, we show that universities that give higher royalty shares to faculty scientists generate greater license income, controlling for other factors including university size, quality, research funding, and local demand conditions. We use pre-sample data on university
patenting to control for the endogeneity of royalty shares. The incentive effects are larger in private
universities than in public ones, and we provide survey evidence on performance-based pay,
government constraints and objectives of Technology License Offices that helps explain this finding.
Royalty incentives work through two channels — raising faculty effort and sorting scientists across
universities. The effect of incentives is mainly to increase the quality rather than the quantity of
inventions. http://cep.lse.ac.uk/pubs/download/dp0729.pdf

Encouraging New Opportunities for Small Business as Prime
Contractors through Changes to DOE's Management and Operating and OtherManagement Contracts, a feasability study jointly conducted by Small Business Administration Office of Chief Counsel for Advocacy. SBA Department of Energy Natinal Nuclear Security Administration, DOE Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board, June 2006. http://www.sba.gov/advo/research/jrdoe.pdf

How Did Small Business-Owning Households Fare During the Longest U.S. Economic Expansion? by George W. Haynes and Charles Ou for the Small Business Association Office of Advocacy, June 2006.
The study finds that business owners in the 1990s were more likely than wage earners to be in households classified as high income earners and wealth holders. http://www.sba.gov/advo/research/rs276tot.pdf

Reviving Locally Owned Retail by Stacy Mitchell, May 2006
Abstract. Many cities and towns are rethinking their approach to economic development. Rather
than subsidizing big-box developments and offering tax breaks to lure companies from afar, they are beginning to look at how they can use those resources to grow their economies from the ground up: to create local businesses to meet local needs. http://www.nercrd.psu.edu/EntreCOP/RevLocRetail.pdf

A new study released by the Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy, “An Empirical Approach to Characterize Rural Small Business Growth and Profitability,” by Innovation & Information Consultants, Inc., February 2006, examines the factors influencing the growth of small businesses in rural America. The report examines a number of issues that determine the success of entrepreneurial endeavors in rural regions, including the importance of small business and entrepreneurship support centers to the growth of rural businesses. The report also includes case study analysis from six states: Kentucky, Maine, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, and Utah. To download a free copy of the report visit the website link: (http://www.sba.gov/advo/research/rs271tot.pdf)

Teaching Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Creativity Using Student Self-Selected Change Management Projects by James D. Bell.
This paper describes and discusses results of a course taught over two years to non-business
freshman and sophomore honors students where entrepreneurship, innovation and effecting
change was the course focus. In addition to providing background information relevant to
professors interested in offering a similar course, deliverables, outcomes, and a course syllabus
web site link will be shared.
http://www.sbaer.uca.edu/research/usasbe/2006/pdffiles/papers/cases/004.pdf

A New Rural Economy: A New Role for Public Policy by Mark Drabenstott and Jason Henderson, 2006. http://www.kansascityfed.org/RegionalAffairs/mainstreet/MSE_4_06.pdf

The Economic Promise of Investing in High-Quality Preschool: Using Early Education to Improve Economic Growth and the Fiscal Sustainability of States and the Nation, 2006, presents a convincing case for expanding state and federal pre-kindergarten programs to encourage economic growth. The CED report recommends that federal, state and local governments make access to high-quality preschools a priority and consider early education an important part of economic development strategies. Current government spending on pre-K programs is nearly $10 billion, and universal access to high-quality preschool for three- and four-year-olds is expected to cost $30 billion. The report, however, argues that the financial returns more than justify the expense, and that state initiatives must augment the federal Head Start program if they are to remain competitive. Read the complete report at: http://www.ced.org/docs/report/report_prek_econpromise.pdf

US Sole Propietorships: A Gender Comparison, 1985-2000, A working paper by Dr. Ying Lowrey, September 2005.
Abstract. Overall Findings: Between 1985 and 2000, female-owned sole proprietorships grew at a faster rate than those owned by men. Business earnings and activities are different among male and female business owners. http://www.sba.gov/ADVO/research/rs263.pdf

New Census Studies on Self- Employment
It’s been conventional wisdom that many entrepreneurs had parents who were self-employed. According to some estimates, more than half of all business owners had a self-employed family member prior to starting their business. While this data is compelling, what’s really driving intergenerational business ownership patterns? Is it nature or nurture? In other words, are some entrepreneurial traits inherited across generations or do entrepreneurs model the behavior displayed by their parents? Two new papers sponsored by the Census Bureau’s Center for Economic Studies shed some light on these issues. In this research, Robert Fairlie and Alicia Robb examine how a family business background affects small business outcomes. The research offers a number of interesting insights, but one main conclusion stands out. New business owners gain invaluable experience from working in a family member’s small business, not from simply knowing another entrepreneur. This work experience is critical in providing future entrepreneurs with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in business ownership. The authors also note that few public sector programs help aspiring entrepreneurs obtain this kind of apprenticeship experience. Many programs do provide technical assistance and financial support, but they do not provide real life experiences that seem to be important for the acquisition of critical entrepreneurial skills. 

Access the June 2005 US Census Bureau Center for Economic Studies Discussion Paper (CES 05-07) by Robert W. Fairlie and ALicia M. Robb. Families, Human Capital, and Small Business:  Evidence for the Characteristics of Business Owners Survey

Centre for Economic and Business Research (CEBR) Discussion Paper, Defining and Measuring Entrepreneurship by Jens Iversen, Rasmus Jorgensen, Nikolaj Malchow-Moller, and Bertel Schjerning, 2005.
Abstract. Although entrepreneurship has become a buzzword in the public debate, a coherent definition of entrepreneurship has not yet emerged. In this paper, we review the most common theoretical definitions of entrepreneurship and discuss their connection to the various empirical measures in use. We argue that entrepreneurship is best considered a multifaceted concept, and that the different empirical measures reflect different aspects of entrepreneurship. The relevance of this exercise is illustrated by the fact that in a cross-country comparison of entrepreneurship, we find that the relative ranking of countries depends crucially on the indicator used. http://www.cebr.dk/Publications%20submenu/Discussion%20Papers/2005/DP%202005-17.asp

Sustainable Entrepreneurship: Broadening the Definition of ‘Opportunity’ The following paper was presented at the 2005 USASBE/SBI Joint Conference. By Norris F. Krueger, Jr., Ph.D. of Boise State University.
Abstract. The ‘New Economy’ and its offspring, the ‘New Competitive Landscape’, are oft-characterized as producing ‘new forms’ and ‘new functions’, often from ‘new voices’. This paper discusses one set of under-appreciated ‘new voices’ producing ‘new winners’ that are arising from
proactively seeking opportunities that are sustainable not just on the economic dimension but
also on social and environmental dimensions. Over the last several years, a working group of
scholars and practitioners has focused on a broader definition of 'opportunity', broadening the
construct of 'opportunity' to include social and environmental dimensions. It is a most opportune
time to recognize that, for entrepreneurial managers, 'opportunity' is much more than economic.
http://www.sbaer.uca.edu/research/usasbe/2005/pdffiles/papers/35.pdf

The Entrepreneur and Entrepreneurship: A Neoclassical Approach by Dr. Ying Lowrey, Office of Advocacy, SBA, Presented January 5, 2003 at ASSA Annual Meeting.
Abstract. This paper attempts to introduce the entrepreneur as the "economic man" into a neoclassical framework and to indicate the role of government in fostering entrepreneurship. The entrepreneur is assumed to behave as if he maximizes utility including his value and desire to succeed, subject to an income constraint, of which his physical effort in subsistent production and entrepreneurial production generate this income. Entrepreneurship, specifically, is defined as an "economic system" that consists of three components: (1) entrepreneurs, who desire to achieve their goals of economic survival and advancement; (2) the social constitution, that the entrepreneur's right of free enterprise is granted; and (3) the government, that has the ability to adjust the economic institutions that can work to protect each individual entrepreneur and to stimulate entrepreneurs' motive to achieve toward fostering of economic development and growth. http://www.sba.gov/advo/stats/wkp03yl.pdf

Why Do Some Universities Generate More Start Ups Than Others? by Dante Di Gregorio and Scott Shane, 2001.
The results of this study provide insight into why some universities generate more new companies to exploit their intellectual property than do others. We compare four different explanations for cross-institutional variation in new firm formation rates from university technology licensing offices (TLOs) over the 1994-1998 period – the availability of venture capital in the university area; the commercial orientation of university research and development; intellectual eminence; and university policies. The results show that intellectual eminence, and the policies of making equity investments in TLO start-ups and maintaining a low inventor's share of royalties increase new firm formation. The paper discusses the implications of these results for university and public policy.
http://bmgt3-notes.umd.edu/faculty/km/papers.nsf/225f2e46a850b27885256a560076708a//30aee75d
c1ee05a385256a4f0051b6f3?OpenDocument

Why Networks Enhance New Venture Creation: A Theoretical and Empirical Model of Social Capital, Overconfidence And Risk Perception by Donna Marie DeCarolis, Barrie Litzky and Kimberly Eddleston.
Abstract. What differentiates the well-connected entrepreneur from the well-connected non-entrepreneur? Building on prior work, our model suggests that social capital is not enough; that the type of person involved in network relationships matters to new venture creation. We empirically test the effects of the interplay of social capital, cognitive biases and risk perception. Our mediated model is tested using an on-line survey of 269 entrepreneurs. Our results confirm that networks enhance levels of overconfidence. Overconfidence in turn is directly related to new venture creation. We find marginal support for the relationship between social capital and risk perception.
http://www.nercrd.psu.edu/EntreCOP/WhyNetworksEnhance.pdf

From the TBED Newsletter http://www.tbedresourcecenter.org/ :
A Call to Action: Why America Must Innovate. This National Governors Association report discusses the challenges posed to state economies by the globalization of the economy. It argues that the global level playing field has made state innovation policy more, not less, important and offers several recommendation to improve state competitiveness.  Available at: http://www.nga.org/Files/pdf/0702INNOVATIONCALLTOACTION.PDF
The Entrepreneurship-Philanthropy Nexus: Non-market Source of American Entrepreneurial Capitalism. This paper examines how Sweden and the United States have been impacted by philanthropic activities, commercialization of university-based knowledge and international entrepreneurship. The results show that the U.S. policies have created a university system based on competition and variety with an emphasis on philanthropy, promoting knowledge creation. International entrepreneurship has been an important mechanism by which this knowledge is spread overseas, leading to economic growth. http://www.infra.kth.se/cesis/documents/WP34.pdf
Access to Financial Capital Among U.S. Businesses: The Case of African-American Firms provides an overview of previous research on the barriers to capital faced by African-American entrepreneurs, and presents data that suggests African-American-owned businesses are less likely to have loans approved and are more likely to not apply for loans because of fear of denial.  http://webserver01.ces.census.gov/index.php/ces/1.00/cespapers?down_key=101775Exploiting Entrepreneurial Opportunities: The Impact of Entrepreneurship on Growth. This paper presents empirical results that indicate that an increase in innovative start-up activity is more effective than an increase in general entrepreneurship for economic growth. This article is available at: http://www2.druid.dk/conferences/viewpaper.php?id=150&cf=8

Native American Business Participation in E-Commerce: An Assessment of Technical Assistance and Training Needs (RRD 185) by Bregendahl, Corry and C.B. Flora, 2003 Ames, IA: North Central Regional Center for Rural Development
This project was initiated to address the participation of Native American business owners in e-commerce. The data-based approach combines research with outreach and provides recommendations for developing a culturally appropriate technical assistance and training program to help disadvantaged Native American business owners transition into the new technological era. This program is expected to contribute to economic self-development efforts that are expected to achieve broader nation-building goals necessary for tribal sovereignty and self-determination. Research was conducted by facilitating learning circles
on four reservations across the country and engaging in dialogue with tribal colleges, cooperative extensions, tribal small business centers, and local nonprofit organizations. Collaborative learning circle participants are current or prospective Native American business owners.

Kauffman Index of Entrepreneurial Activity, demonstrates that immigrants and older people show exceptionally high rates of entrepreneurial activity.  For more information, and to download the national and state reports, please visit: http://kauffman.org/items.cfm?itemID=703

Cultural Approach to Building Native American Businesses, Entrepreneurial Product of the Month - Indianpreneurship Curriculum from ONABEN http://www.energizingentrepreneurs.org/content/cr.php?id=2&sel=1

American Made: The Impact of Immigrant Entrepreneurs and Professionals on U.S. Competitiveness by Stuart Anderson and Michaela Platzer
This study concludes that immigrant entrepreneurs play a vital role in U.S. economic prosperity and that continued growth may depend on maintaining an open system of immigration that encourages entrepreneurs and skilled professionals to relocate to the U.S. Few immigrant entrepreneurs came to the U.S. to start companies. Most arrived as children, students or workers in their early- to mid-20s, hired on H-1B visas for workers with specialized knowledge. http://www.nvca.org/pdf/AmericanMade_study.pdf

A Catalog of  Innovative Regional Partnerships: Part Two from the Main Street Economist.  In the latest issue of the Main Street Economist Stephan Weiler, Jason Henderson, and Katie Cervantes discuss summaries of two innovative regional partnerships in the Tenth District--GROW Nebraska and the Prairie States Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership.  The regional cooperation in these examples crosses traditional spatial, institutional, and networking boundaries, creating synergies among players that previously seemed unrelated. Please see the entire issue at: http://www.kansascityfed.org/RuralCenter/mainstreet/MainStMain.htm

Enterprising Rural Families: Making It Work: Enterprising Rural Families is releasing its next monthly electronic newsletter as an aid and supplement in dealing with issues faced by families in business. The course and newsletter is targeted towards all rural family enterprises, whether a Wyoming cattle ranch or a family grocery in Brisbane. Family businesses face unique challenges and Enterprising Rural Families provides a unique course to deal with those challenges. If you would like to access the entire issue, and/or previous issues, go to http://eRuralFamilies.org and click on any of the links on the home page. On the page that appears go to the blue bar at the top of the page and click on "Marketing." This will open the page with the "Enterprising Rural Families Newsletters" title and you can choose the monthly issue of your choice. http://www.ruralcolorado.org/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=546

Linking Youth Savings and Entrepreneurship by Kim Pate and released through Corporation for Enterprise Development looks at the potential synergy between these two strategies.
Many strategies to address poverty have focused on supplementing a family’s income. Income
maintenance strategies are important, because they provide the necessary cash, food, health care, and supportive services to prevent many people from experiencing severe deprivation. These public
assistance programs, however, have generally failed to encourage households to save and accumulate even small amounts of resources to use for future investments or present emergencies. Moreover, “assets tests” used in determining eligibility for public assistance often force families to deplete their assets before they can qualify for assistance and create a disincentive for families otherwise interested in trying to accumulate the assets needed to achieve greater economic independence and a better quality of life. http://www.cfed.org/publications/documents/Linking_Youth_Savings_Entrepreneurship_final.pdf

I Said Yes!  By Julie Silard Kantor, Executive Director of the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) Washington DC has just released a new book, I Said Yes!, a first-person account of the transformative power that NFTE's mission of teaching entrepreneurship has brought to so many young lives. The book includes real life stories of students, teachers and leaders involved with youth entrepreneurship in our schools. To learn more about the book, visit the website,
http://www.isaidyes.net/

A Rural Service Provider's Guide to Immigrant Entrepreneurshiphttp://www.energizingentrepreneurs.org/content/cr.php?id=6&sel=1

Table 1, Summary of Empirical Studies from "Determinants and implications of growth in non-farm proprietor densities in the U.S., 1990-2000" by Stephan Goetz and Anil Rupasingha.
Abstract. The number of non-farm proprietorships in the US has expanded significantly in past decades, but this expansion has not occurred evenly over space.  Regression analysis correcting for spatial autocorrelation reveals that proprietors respond rationally to economic incentives.  Parameter estimates for variables measuring collateral, age, ethnic mix, income taxes, female labor force participation and natural amenities each have the expected signs. A few options are available to policymakers for influencing growth in self-employment densities over time.

The Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development is located at the Pennsylvania State University and collaborates with land grant institutions in the northeast U.S.