well, I’d think that the increase in gas prices, right now, might have an effect on whether or not people want to take the chance on a new business. the fluctuations in gas costs effect so many different business aspects and, if this year is any indication, make it rather difficult to do any sort of business planning/forecasting.

Be that as it may, the rise in entrepreurship by those of us horribly defined as “middle-aged” seems to me to indicate that we aren’t afraid to take chances. Some of that might come from longer life spans, better health than our parents, and a generational over-inflated sense of self-importance But, seriously, most middle-agers, in part because overall health is better, are able to consider more possibilities for later life, including starting businesses.

If the trend continues, in the near future we might see more people over the age of 65 retiring from corporate lives not to go out to pasture but to start new entreprenurial lives.