São Paulo – Brazil is the third most entrepreneurial country among the members of the G-20, the group of 20 main economies in the world. The figure is part of the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM 2008) study, disclosed yesterday (17) by the Brazilian Micro and Small Business Support Service (Sebrae). According to information published on the Sebrae news agency, Brazil is only behind Argentina and Mexico.
The rate of entrepreneurship of Argentina is 16.5%, that of Mexico, 13.1%, and the Brazilian, 12.02%. The percentage refers to what share of the adult population develops entrepreneurial activities. The G-20 includes Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, the European Union, the United Kingdom and the United States.
The study, however, did no include Australia, Canada, China, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and the European Union. Together, the members of the G-20 represent around 90% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the world and answer to 80% of international trade. They include 81.24% of the entrepreneurs of the world, according to Agência Sebrae. In the study, the countries considered most developed present lower entrepreneurship than less developed nations.
The research evaluated the countries of the G-20, but also included a broader evaluation, including 43 nations. In the world, India is the country with the greatest volume of entrepreneurs in absolute numbers: 76.04 million. Then came the United States, with 20 million and, in third, Brazil, with 14.6 million. Due to characteristics of the population itself, the US is the only developed countries to figure among the top five in entrepreneurship. On the other end is Iceland, with 18,000 entrepreneurs, Slovenia, with 86,000 and Latvia, with 96,000.
Youths and entrepreneurs
Brazilian youths are also more entrepreneurial. The GEM research shows that of the total number of youths in the country, between 18 and 24 years of age, 15% develop entrepreneurial activities. This means 3.82 million people. Between 2001 and 2008, this rate was 11.9%. Youths also represent 25% of young Brazilian entrepreneurs, which places Brazil in third place in the global ranking, only behind Iran, where the rate is 29%, and Jamaica, where the rate is 28%.
The research also shows that Brazil has more planned and consistent entrepreneurship. For the first time since the study started being promoted in the country, the proportion of people that enterprise due to need and opportunity has been inverted. For each Brazilian who enterprises due to need, there are two who enterprise due to an opportunity. And the rate of entrepreneurship in Brazil, 12%, is similar to that of the Untied States and other developed nations, according to Agência Sebrae.
*Translated by Mark Ament
