Entrepreneurship as the basis for prosperity

 “Crises are challenges” André Leysen wrote in 1984. Is this true? Yes, after a deep recession such as 1929, after each world war...

Situations which caused shock waves that affected every individual as well as collectively developed systems, organisations, authorities... You feel threatened then, even in terms of your basic needs. Certainties dissolve. This generates adrenaline, energy, resilience, dynamism and entrepreneurship... You are under pressure and because of this new ideas take shape which you pursue wholeheartedly. You have everything to gain, little to lose.  Louis Paul Boon wrote his best books when he was hungry...

No, apparently no longer because as citizens we don’t notice the crises any more, not even this global crisis. They are absorbed by the authorities and by solidarity mechanisms. Many incomes are ‘guaranteed’ by government (with the public sector employing 32% of all employees, we top the international rankings) or come from (re)distribution systems based on fiscal or para-fiscal sources (an unemployment benefit of indefinite duration does not encourage initiative). A bankrupt government, therefore, but wealthy citizens! Why then should we bother about starting a business? We can easily live with an enormous budget deficit, people think. Anyway, it emerged by itself and will probably go away by itself, according to a former federal minister of finance. So where is the challenge then?

Even now, in the deepest financial-economic crisis ever, our country can still afford wage indexation, guaranteed growth of the health budget by 4.5% above inflation, etc.  Welfare seems assured.

But things are seldom what they seem! Who dares to tell the people this, who will get the opportunity and who still has the necessary credibility?

A shock would nevertheless be the obvious way to wake up and see that that which appears certain is becoming highly uncertain. Therefore, it’s time to write a new book entitled “Entrepreneurship as the basis for prosperity,” with the following main chapters:

Economics

How is prosperity created in a country or region? What impact will emerging countries such as China, India and Russia have on our prosperity? Scenarios of prosperity declining by 5% each year – consequences?

Strategy, vison and action 

How, as a country/region, do you develop a future vision for all stakeholders that is ambitious and provides enough prosperity for everyone? How do you engage all, so that we all use our talent spontaneously and start taking initiative? 

Innovation

Which products and services do we want and are we able to develop? What is needed to make this happen? Under which conditions will we be able to sell these on international markets?

Education 

How do we teach children creativity, curiosity and an eagerness to learn...? How do we make sure that the entrepreneurial drive among young people doesn’t decline the longer they study? How do we get young people socially engaged and interested in the policies that will largely determine their future?

In conclusion, I am convinced that by developing an ambitious vision for the future which is supported by political leaders, top academics and business leaders as well as trade union leaders and by constantly publicising and explaining it, we will succeed in creating a dynamic among the population in which entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship become a self-evident goal that is placed at the very top of the social agenda. This is so because people will understand, certainly after reading that book, that entrepreneurship in its most diverse forms is equal to economic growth, which in turn is absolutely essential for the preservation of our prosperity and well being.