More than two thirds of the Europeans polled in 16 countries have a positive attitude towards entrepreneurship, according to the Entrepreneurship in Romania in 2012 and The Entrepreneurial Spirit in Europe study conducted by GfK Nuremberg, Germany, at the Amway Europe’s initiative. The results posted in Romania are close to the European average, with 66 percent of the Romanians having a positive attitude.

Young Romanians aged under 30 are more optimistic when it comes to entrepreneurship development compared to those in other European countries - around 50 percent of younger Romanians say self-employment is important for the future, while the European average is 39 percent.  Around two thirds of the polled Romanians, namely 65 percent, think that entrepreneurship will be equally or more important in the working world ten years from now, while the European average was 78 percent.

The most important reasons for the Romanians to start up their own business are: second income prospects - 55 percent, independence from an employer - 30 percent and self-fulfillment, possibility to realize own ideas - 23 percent.

The lack of starting capital, the uncertain economic situation and the fear of failure are the biggest obstacles to becoming self-employed in all European countries, shows the report. In Romania, the lack of starting capital is considered a problem by 67 percent of the polled people, while the European average is 57 percent. The uncertain economic situation represents an obstacle for 32 percent of the Romanians, under the European average of 44 percent, while the fear of failure is an turn-off for 26 percent of the polled Romanians.

The survey was conducted by GfK Germany on over 17,000 women and men from 16 countries, namely Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, the UK, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey and Ukraine. In Romania, the study was conducted on a sample of some 1,000 people.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com

(photo source: sxc.hu)