The report explores the latest trends in business formation in Australia. It identifies measures to improve the operating environment for emerging businesses and calls for a refresh of supporting programs and policies in four key areas: regulation, finance, skills, and culture and competition. It finds Australia has experienced a long-term decline in business ownership rates.

Government policy often supports small businesses through lower taxes, lighter labour regulation and grants. Yet this paper finds it is actually young firms that play the most outsized role in economic dynamism in Australia. Using firm-level microdata, the paper draws out this important distinction between firm size and age in firms’ economic contribution, highlighting three...

This report introduces a multi-dimensional framework to assess and compare entrepreneurial ecosystems across all OECD countries. Designed as a policy support tool, the report provides evidence-based insights to identify systemic bottlenecks and guide national strategies. It aims to facilitate informed dialogue and targeted policy action to build dynamic and balanced national entrepreneurial ecosystems.

Exponentially growing AI model training costs create a market entry barrier for AI start-ups, forcing them to cooperate with big tech firms to get access to computing infrastructure and end users. This Policy Brief examines competition-reducing market-entry barriers in each segment in the AI value chain.

This report focuses on regulatory sandboxes in artificial intelligence (AI), where authorities engage firms to test innovative products or services that challenge existing legal frameworks.