Response Rates and Response Patterns among New Employers: Results from the Kauffman Firm Survey (KFS) (Presentation)

Economic growth is related to continued formation of new businesses. The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation sponsors research focused on entrepreneurship and new business formation. The Kauffman Firm Survey (KFS) is a national longitudinal survey of new businesses conducted for the Foundation by Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. (MPR). This survey was designed to achieve completed interviews with an initial sample of 5,000 businesses formed in 2004, followed by annual surveys to collect data on the new business characteristics and financing needed to create and sustain them. Survey data will be available to researchers to improve their understanding of the dynamics of new businesses. MPR selected the sample using D&B data files and is using web-based and CATI data collection procedures to capture the information. The purpose of this paper is to describe the characteristics and determinants of response among this elusive population.