Business Trends in the 21st Century

This book opens with an examination of the economic circumstances of veteran-owned business. It provides a brief overview of veterans employment experiences, comparing unemployment and labor force participation rates for veterans, veterans who have left the military since September 2001 and nonveterans. The next chapter provides a historical examination of the SBA (Small Business Administrations) size standards and assesses competing views concerning how to define a small business. The third chapter is a 3-page CRS report on business capital investment spending, its components and causes of the recent slowdown. The fourth chapter of this book examine the SB OIG (offices of inspector general) funding in Fiscal Year 2018, its impact on monetary saving, SBA programs and operations and legislation affecting the agency. It concludes with observations concerning the SBA OIGs relationship with Congress. The last chapter opens with a discussion of the rationale provided for having a Microloan program, describes the programs eligibility standards and operating requirements for lenders and borrowers, and examines the arguments presented by the programs critics and advocates.