An international study conducted by London based Global Entrepreneurship Monitor has named Auckland top of 27 OECD countries for entrepreneurs.

The survey shows Auckland boasting a 13.5 percent proportion of the population aged between 18-64 years as entrepreneurs.

Vancouver was named the next best city with 11.8 per cent followed by Melbourne (11.7 per cent), Los Angeles (11.5 per cent) and New York (11.2 percent) making up the top five.

The least entrepreneurial city was Tokyo (1.8 per cent), Milan (3.3 per cent), Paris (4.2 per cent), Brussels (4.4 per cent) and Rotterdam (4.7 per cent).

The survey data ran from 2001-2008 and even though Auckland had data only from 2001-2005 was still named the top city.

Unitec professor and GEM New Zealand director, Dr Howard Frederick says, “The survey shows Auckland still has an undisputed lead over other OECD cities when it comes to entrepreneurship”.

High-aspiration entrepreneurs are usually linked to new product creation, job growth expectations, the “creative classes”, and the technology sector according to previous GEM research.

However Dr Frederick cautions that, “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.”

There are other findings in the study that could help New Zealand policy makers and educators, says Dr Frederick.

To download a copy of this study go here.

Most Entrepreneurial cities (% of population as entrepreneurs)

1 Auckland 13.5
2 Vancouver 11.8
3 Melbourne 11.7
4 Los Angeles 11.5
5 New York 11.2
6 Sydney 11.2

Average 7.5

Least Entrepreneurial cities

22 Helsinki 4.8
23 Rotterdam 4.7
24 Brussels 4.4
25 Paris 4.2
26 Milan 3.3
27 Tokyo 1.8