Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council

Privacy and Public Opinion

By SBE Council at 17 June, 2013, 1:31 pm

by Savannah Bentley- The internet is embedded in the daily lives of most Americans. While the opportunities and conveniences of the digital world are abundant, Americans are also concerned about the risks and uncertainties. The 17th quarterly survey in the Allstate/National Journal Heartland Monitor Poll series, “All Eyes on Privacy,” reveals the discomfort many American [...]

Immigration Reform, Small Business Owners, and Entrepreneurship

By SBE Council at 7 June, 2013, 9:10 am

by Raymond J. Keating- Immigration reform would be good news for the economy in a variety of ways. That includes the impact on small business and entrepreneurship. Consider two recent items regarding immigration reform and the entrepreneurial sector of the economy. First, Javier Palomarez, president & CEO of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, [...]

Small Business Innovation and Success Depends On More Spectrum

By SBE Council at 6 June, 2013, 9:33 am

by Savannah Bentley- The world is becoming increasingly digitized, which presents many benefits and opportunities for small business owners. However, as the use of technology has grown among consumers and small businesses, data usage and dependence on it are rising simultaneously. While it is a good thing that people are experiencing the transformative benefits of [...]

Free Trade Works: A Review of Colombia and South Korea

By SBE Council at 28 May, 2013, 10:14 am

by Raymond J. Keating- The benefits of free trade agreements too often get ignored, however the one year anniversay of the United States-Columbia Trade Promotion Agreement (May 15) gives us an opportunity to review the benefits and what trade means for our economy. The United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement was also marked on March 15, [...]

Technology and Entrepreneurs: FCC Lagging and Dragging the Market

By SBE Council at 17 May, 2013, 10:44 am

by Raymond J. Keating- The telecommunications marketplace continues to drive ahead with investing in, expanding and innovating high-speed Internet Protocol (“IP”) broadband networks. Of course, consumers ultimately are driving this transformation, as they make the decisions about what works and what does not in the marketplace. For example, a December 27, 2012, NBC News report [...]

Eleven Countries to Watch on the Trade and IP Front

By SBE Council at 9 May, 2013, 4:45 pm

by Raymond J. Keating- When releasing its annual “Special 301” Report, Acting U.S. Trade Representative Marantis declared, “This year’s Special 301 Report demonstrates U.S. resolve to take strong action to support critical jobs and exports in IP-intensive industries.” The “Special 301″ Report is an annual review of the global state of intellectual property (IP) rights [...]

Latest Export/Import Data and Outlook…Will Commerce and USTR Nominees Invigorate Trade?

By SBE Council at 3 May, 2013, 1:28 pm

by Raymond J. Keating- The latest trade numbers from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis were not good. In March, both exports and imports declined. In fact, exports and imports were lower than their March 2012 levels. These numbers point to restrained opportunities for U.S. exporters, and a domestic economy that continues to grow at [...]

IP Watch: Counterfeit’s Big Chunk of International Trade

By SBE Council at 26 April, 2013, 1:20 pm

by Raymond J. Keating- The level of counterfeit goods circulating in the international market warrants significant concern among consumers, entrepreneurs, shareholders and managers, and policymakers. Powerful reminders were provided by recent findings from the U.N. It was noted in an April 16, AFP report: “Organised crime gangs dealing in fake goods, drugs, human trafficking, and [...]

T&E: Helping the Little Guy on Spectrum Sales? Not Really

By SBE Council at 19 April, 2013, 12:55 pm

by Raymond J. Keating- Competition works best for entrepreneurs and small businesses. That is, allowing businesses of all types and sizes to compete in the free market to serve customers is economically superior – including for small businesses – compared to politicians and/or political appointees deciding to favor certain businesses over others. History and economics [...]

China: Opportunity and Risk

By SBE Council at 18 April, 2013, 1:10 pm

by Raymond J. Keating From a business standpoint, China stands out as a glaring economic oxymoron. It is a land of vast potential and a place of considerable business threats. That’s not news, of course, to anyone doing business in or with enterprises in China. The potentials are considerable. After all, China is our largest [...]