Entrepreneurship: A Way of Life

Entrepreneurship is a mindset. However, studies show that entrepreneurship still remains a structural and cultural anomaly in continental Europe. Starting from this hypothesis the authors show how Europe could be made entrepreneurship-friendly. Entrepreneurship is discussed from start to growth. The authors plead for an environment where an entrepreneurship culture can be developed whereby success is applauded and failure tolerated. It is the only way to create sustainable growth and employment.

In relation to policy, the authors show that classical subsidy policy has often a pervert effect keeping alive lame ducks and hindering real entrepreneurs in their growth. Subsidies kill the economy. Incubators and innovative financing tools such as business angels, crowd-funding and seed money are discussed as a real alternative allowing entrepreneurs to undertake. However these instruments only make sense in an entrepreneurial environment. A radical shift towards entrepreneurship policy is therefore needed guaranteeing a prosperous economy and much better value for public money. Entrepreneurship should be(come) a way of life.