The article argues that encouraging more people to become entrepreneurs is a flawed public policy approach. Policy makers often believe that increasing the number of start-up companies will boost economic growth, foster innovation, and create jobs. However, this belief is incorrect because the typical start-up is not innovative, creates few jobs, and generates little wealth. The author, Scott Shane, emphasizes that economic growth and job creation from entrepreneurs are not a numbers game but rather depend on encouraging high-quality, high-growth companies. He suggests that policy makers should focus on supporting businesses with growth potential rather than subsidizing typical start-ups. Shane provides evidence that the majority of new businesses are not entrepreneurial in the sense of building companies that grow and generate jobs and wealth. Instead, they are wage-substitution businesses that resemble self-employment more than high-growth ventures. He also highlights that as countries become wealthier, the rate of new firm formation decreases, and the correlation between economic growth and new firm formation is negative over the long term. Shane further discusses how government incentives often attract the worst entrepreneurs and how new firms create a small percentage of jobs, with many failing within their first few years. He concludes by advocating for policy changes that reduce incentives for marginal entrepreneurs and shift resources to support high-growth companies, such as through programs like the Small Business Innovation Research Program and R&D tax credits.The article argues that encouraging more people to become entrepreneurs is a flawed public policy approach. Policy makers often believe that increasing the number of start-up companies will boost economic growth, foster innovation, and create jobs. However, this belief is incorrect because the typical start-up is not innovative, creates few jobs, and generates little wealth. The author, Scott Shane, emphasizes that economic growth and job creation from entrepreneurs are not a numbers game but rather depend on encouraging high-quality, high-growth companies. He suggests that policy makers should focus on supporting businesses with growth potential rather than subsidizing typical start-ups. Shane provides evidence that the majority of new businesses are not entrepreneurial in the sense of building companies that grow and generate jobs and wealth. Instead, they are wage-substitution businesses that resemble self-employment more than high-growth ventures. He also highlights that as countries become wealthier, the rate of new firm formation decreases, and the correlation between economic growth and new firm formation is negative over the long term. Shane further discusses how government incentives often attract the worst entrepreneurs and how new firms create a small percentage of jobs, with many failing within their first few years. He concludes by advocating for policy changes that reduce incentives for marginal entrepreneurs and shift resources to support high-growth companies, such as through programs like the Small Business Innovation Research Program and R&D tax credits.