Seven out of ten Brazilians who start a business take the initiative because they've identified an opportunity to earn money as business owners. This is one of the conclusions of the survey Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) - held in Brazil in partnership with the Entrepreneurship and New Business Centre (GVCenn) of São Paulo School of Business Administration (FGV/EAESP) and Sebrae.

In 2002, only 42% of the entrepreneurs started a company believing in the market demand; while for the others entrepreneurship was a necessity mainly because they did not find a job in the market. Thus, the rate of entrepreneurship by opportunity achieved in 2013 increased to 71% - the highest in 12 years.

Also according to the survey, the owners of half of the businesses with up to three and a half years of activity are between 18 and 34 years old, while for the businesses that have been in the market longer only 25% of their owners belong to this age range.  Women are also the majority among new entrepreneurs, reaching 52%. 

The best among the BRICS

Brazil had the best performance in the ranking of opportunity for entrepreneurship among the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, China, India and South Africa): almost 85% of Brazilians consider starting a business as a good career option, above the percentages of Russia (66%), India (61%), China (70%) and South Africa (74%).

In the United States, the rate of those who wish to open their own business reaches 78%, and in the UK, 84%.

The survey was conducted in 68 countries, based on interviews with 10,000 people between 18-64 years old, from all regions, plus 85 experts in entrepreneurship.