Global Entrepreneurship Monitor 2006
In 2006 the Centre for Development of Entrepreneurs won the rights to be Australian co-author of the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, along with the Australian Graduate School of Entrepreneurship at Swinburne University. This survey, coordinated by the London Business School and Babson College in the US, is probably the world's largest study of entrepreneurship behaviour. It covers more than 40 countries each year. The 2006 Australian survey produced a wealth of information about entrepreneurship,of particular interests to local authorities that are trying to encourage small business.
There was a fixed set of questions on this survey, to enable international comparisons. With a total sample size in Australia of more than 2000, and sample size in proportion to state population, this will produce samples ranging from around 500 in NSW/ACT, down to about 150 in SA and WA.
The three key research questions covered by the GEM study are:
- To what extent the level of entrepreneurial activity varies between countries.
- Whether the level of entrepreneurial activity affects a country's economic growth rate and prosperity.
- What makes a country entrepreneurial.
In recent years, Australia has been one of the most entrepreneurially active countries. Further details can be found in reports available on the GEM website.