Kauffman Dissertation Executive Summary: 'The Impact of Regulation on Entrepreneurship and Innovation'

Abstract

While entrepreneurs are hailed as the key to innovation and growth, in industries where these benefits are most desired, government regulations may handicap entrepreneurs and dampen these benefits. Given the importance of both entrepreneurship and regulation to improving social outcomes, it is imperative for entrepreneurship scholars and policy makers to better understand these apparently countervailing forces of free entry and regulation. This work investigates the impact of regulations on competition, entry, and innovation (productivity) using the quasi-experimental properties of the U.S. bail bond industry. The results suggest it is possible to design regulations without inhibiting the benefits of entrepreneurship.