Results for Switzerland from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor 2018/2019 (GEM)
Fostering entrepreneurial awareness and positive attitudes toward entrepreneurship is high on Switzerland’s policy agenda. Nevertheless, the intentions of Swiss inhabitants to start a business are lower (6.9%) than in 2017 (10.5%) and under the average for other high-income economies (17.1%). Moreover, only 7.4% of Swiss business people have plunged into entrepreneurial activities (total entrepreneurial activity TEA-rate), a founding rate that is below the average of compared countries (10.4 %).
The results of the 2018/2019 edition also show that the Swiss are less confident about their entrepreneurial abilities to start a new business (perception of capabilities rate at 36.5%), paired with a higher fear of failure, compared to 2017 (39.9%, 2017: 29.5%). This percentage of Swiss who believe they have the required skills and knowledge to start a business is below the European benchmark and clearly behind the very strong confidence of Americans in their own capacity to start a business. Since 2013 the perception of capabilities has been decreasing and we are at the same low level as in 2012.
The status of successful entrepreneurs and media attention for entrepreneurship have decreased in Switzerland and are below average for high-income economies. The startup scene in Switzerland is still young and strongly marked by Zurich and the Lake Geneva area and there is broad regional distribution. The difference to the top countries regarding entrepreneurial activity grew bigger in 2018 and the positive results in 2017 regarding entrepreneurial perceptions, or higher entrepreneurial intentions, social status or media attention were not translated into more engagement in entrepreneurial activities today. These findings are critical and must be closely watched in the next few years.
Find all results here: HEG_Infografik_2019