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December 30, 2003
Predictions for 2004
Here are my predictions for the world of entrepreneurship (and beyond) for 2004:
1. Production in US factories will increase at .5 percent per month throughout 2004.
2. The federal government will begin to significantly shift policy toward recognition of the importance of entrepreneurship in the US economy; including significant agency restructuring that favors the SBA.
3. The Green Bay Packers will win the Super Bowl.
4. Unemployment will drop well below 5 percent by the end of the year.
5. Bush's re-election will signal a true shift to conservatism in the US.
6. The University of Kentucky will make the Final Four.
7. Republicans will take true control of the Senate in the fall elections, thus ending the filibustering of judicial nominations.
8. Several more states will pass regulatory fairness legislation in 2004, thus easing the economic burden of unnecessary regulation on smaller businesses.
9. Belmont University will make the men's NCAA basketball tournament.
10. New business start-ups will increase every month throughout 2004.
11. Deflation worries will subside, as moderate inflation returns.
12. Interest rates will increase by 1.0 points by year end.
All bets are off if the War of Terror takes a bad turn, but I also predict significant progress on this front by the end of the year. This will lead to a very optimistic mood by the beginning of 2005.
Posted December 30, 2003 03:18 PM
Comments
I could not agree more with your prediction about the Green Bay Packers!
Posted by: Todd at December 30, 2003 08:37 PM
I was glad to find this entrepreneurial blog from Belmont University!
While I can't comment on all the predictions,
I do work with dislocated workers in the state of TN.
When massive layoffs occur, I notice that 1) the powers that be never seem to investigate employees buying the plant and attempting to make it profitable ... in at least one instance I believe there may have been enough employee leadership to have kept some in similar positions... and 2) dislocated workers are funnelled into job retraining but entrepreneurship is not presented as a realistic option. Get the SBA at the mass meetings!!!!!!!
Just some thoughts.
PS I predict that with Google and Yahoo doing more regional searches... NOW is the time for even podunk businesses to get on the net. I wondered why THIS wasn't one of your predictions as it is mine?
Posted by: Chuck H. at January 4, 2004 02:36 AM
I predict that many of the downsized middle-aged people have started their own businesses and will not be running to answer the corporate call when they begin to rehire.
Posted by: SwampWoman at January 4, 2004 05:29 AM
Jeff, I hope you are right about UK, but unless Barbour picks up his play, I don't think they are Final Four material. The bench isn't deep enough and if a starter gets hurt they won't have a chance. Let's hope Tubby has some games he can use to develop the bench.
Posted by: Rob at January 7, 2004 04:54 PM
at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. He consults with a variety of businesses on start-up and growth related issues, and with larger corporations on re-establishing entrepreneurial cultures within their organizations. Dr. Cornwall's current research interests include entrepreneurial finance and entrepreneurial ethics. He has authored or co-authored four books.
