This book takes a close look at the contribution of small firms to the U.S. economy and at the contrasts between traditional development policies and those often recommended to help the small enterprise. The book offers systematic guidelines that will assist economic developers, policy makers, and private citizens in their efforts to promote entrepreneurship and assure sound economic development at local and state levels. "Recent Publications on Governmental ProblemS"

The widespread interest in entrepreneurship as a means of creating jobs and raising incomes has resulted in a growing demand for an economic and political environment that will nurture small business ventures. Accordingly, the promotion of entrepreneurship has taken its place alongside industrial recruitment as a component of economic developement policy. In this study, Benjamin Mokry considers whether it makes sense to devise such policies without first exploring more thoroughly the dynamics of entrepreneurship and the possible impact of government initiatives. In a careful analysis based on in-depth research on state and local development policies, he points up existing information gaps and suggests a realistic framework for approaching policy design in this area.