Small business and entrepreneurship stories may not always get front-page treatment. In case you missed them, here are some of the week’s top stories.
- Is America becoming less entrepreneurial? Scott Shane, professor of entrepreneurial studies at Case Western, thinks so. Among other data, he points to declining self-employment rates and a downward trend in the number of new establishments created annually. He attributes this trend to the “Walmart effect,” where large, efficient companies replace independent stores. (New York Times)
- India has hired a famous entrepreneur to help with its universal licensing plan. Nandan Nilekani, the co-founder of Infosys, one of India’s biggest computer-services companies, was appointed to run India’s scheme to issue a new, biometric identity card to each of the country’s 1.2 billion citizens. India has over 100 million internal migrants, but no form of identity is recognized in all parts of the country, making it difficult to vote, receive state benefits or open a bank account. The scheme is also being promoted for national security and immigration reasons. (Economist)
- If you want to land a job, should you turn to Linkedin? By announcing that he plans to reduce the influence of the freemasons, François Pérol, controversially appointed by French President Sarkozy to head two merging banks, has put networking into the spotlight. While Linkedin and its French and German counterparts, Viadeo and Xing, gain in popularity, old style networks, like those between freemasons or Ivy League graduates, are holding strong. The Economist has an interesting discussion on old style networks versus online ones. (Economist)
- Small technology and healthcare companies are defying the economic downturn, according to the new Fortune Small Business rankings of America’s 100 fastest growing small public companies. “To thrive in these conditions, you must be extraordinary. You have to offer a smart solution that solves a genuine problem for customers,” the article says. Thirty of companies listed were technology-centric, while 16 dealt in healthcare. (Fortune Small Business)
- Exporting could be a practical solution for small businesses looking to survive and grow. Although small businesses make up 97% of the country’s exporters, only 1% of the nation’s small businesses export. Senator Landrieu (D-LA) cited this statistic during a hearing by the Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship. The hearing focused on a number of ways that federal programs can help promote small businesses export goods. (New Orleans Business News)
- If you think your next entrepreneurial venture lies in selling Michael Jackson memorabilia, watch out. Intellectual property lawyers are anticipating a slew of legal battles involving the exploitation of Michael Jackson’s name, music and image — even the moonwalk could be off limits. Already, commemorative T-shirts, belt buckles and hats can be found on craigslist and eBay, while Jackson’s backers are hoping that the public’s renewed goodwill will turn into profits and an ongoing business for his family. (National Law Journal)
Photo courtesy of Dustin Diaz.
