We chose to assume that these courses, in particular, were oriented toward start-ups. This sorting left us with 504 courses in what we labeled as entrepreneurship, and 288 in what we regarded as ongoing management. More importantly, however, we expected that if we sought to include a wider range of subjects, the number of schools would expand beyond what we were prepared to cope with. The task could balloon completely out of hand. The focus away from entry towards an interest in small business seemed to us strongly evident in both the research topics listed by schools that chose to do so and in many of the outreach activities.
Small business is attractive because small businesses are easy to find.
They abide in static form making study convenient, and the government collects statistics on them, which makes data abundant. Also, some small businesses can afford executive programs, and there is often governmental funding to serve these businesses, as well. Bigger firms also tend to have money for expensive executive programs, research support and consulting engagements. But start-up, notwithstanding the impediments to its study, is the source of all businesses, small and large, and therefore worth some concentration of attention. As a major path through which individuals can pursue economic independence and work-place liberty, it is also important.