That is also the conclusion of a trio of more-academic researchers, economists Steven J. Davis of the University of Chicago, John Haltiwanger of the University of Maryland, and Scott Schuh of the Federal Reserve Board. They identify the analytical fallacies that lead people to see job-creation patterns where none exist. And they have done careful empirical research on manufacturing jobs. Small companies create and destroy jobs at a higher rate , since they start from a smaller base. Some small firms grow, and some shrink.
Some big firms grow, and some shrink.
Size alone tells you nothing. None of this is surprising when you think about it. If David Birch or the SBA knew which companies would prosper and add workers, they'd be making a killing in venture capital. And even allowing for some inefficiency in the capital markets, we'd see a lot more unsubsidized investment pouring into little companies. But it makes powerful sense politically, which is why the job-creation myth has persisted and why it has pervaded our political rhetoric.