KEY POINTS:
An international survey has named Auckland the OECD's "top entrepreneurial city".
The study conducted by Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM), based at the London Business School, ranked Auckland top of the heap, with the highest proportion of the population 13.5 per cent considered entrepreneurs.
Vancouver came second with 11.8 per cent, followed by Melbourne, Los Angeles and New York rounding out the top five.
The least entrepreneurial city was Tokyo with 1.8 per cent, Milan with 3.3, Brussels then Rotterdam.
The survey collated data from 55 countries around the world from 2001 to 2008.
While Auckland only had data from 2001 - 2005, it was still named the top city.
Unitec, which published the results today, is responsible for collating data for GEM but a lack of funding has meant it has been unable to carry out research for the past three years.
GEM New Zealand director and Unitec professor, Dr Howard Frederick, said there was very little variation in each country from year to year.
"The survey shows Auckland still has an undisputed lead over other OECD cities when it comes to entrepreneurship," said Frederick. "It also highlights the importance of conducting such research but there has been a lack of funding and interest from the government and private funders to do so."
"Auckland has an extraordinary number of entrepreneurs, but many of them are lifestylers not involved in high-aspiration ventures, as in other cities. This means they are more likely to start up a business from a product or service already in the market rather than come up with something new.
"Our entrepreneurs, as prevalent as they may be, do not contribute much to our wealth. High-aspiration entrepreneurship is associated with entrepreneurship education, and there simply is not enough of that in New Zealand."
-HERALD ONLINE
