Section II
“THE GOAL OF THIS REPORT IS TO ANALYZE AND MEASURE THE REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT.�
SECTION II
CITY PROFILES Cities are the engines of economic growth in the United States. Future economic prosperity will be built on the innovations and hard work of entrepreneurs and small businesses operating, predominantly, in our urban economies. Each city has qualities and characteristics that set it apart from its contemporary municipalities. The overall competitiveness of a city rests on a variety of factors, including industrial development and firm dynamism, human capital, and overall quality of life. Combined, these elements help cities sustain and increase economic growth, attract and retain talented individuals and businesses, and create a thriving center of commerce and social activity. The ultimate success of a city economy relies on a foundation of rules and institutions that are simple, transparent, and welcoming to firms entering the marketplace. Regulations are necessary, but poorly written rules, costly procedures, and burdensome processes hinder the growth of small- and medium-sized enterprises and competition in domestic and global markets. The goal of this report is to analyze and measure the regulatory environment by assessing the procedures, time, and costs required for starting and operating a business across 10 U.S. cities. The results for each city are then benchmarked against the other U.S. cities in this study for comparison. Below is an overview of each city in the report, key initiatives of the city and the business community that are supporting entrepreneurship, and the findings of our research.
Cities
Atlanta, Georgia Boston, Massachusetts Chicago, Illinois Dallas, Texas Detroit, Michigan
Los Angeles, California New York City, New York Raleigh, North Carolina San Francisco, California St. Louis, Missouri 26