How does one measure entrepreneurship across metro regions in the US?

• Non-farm proprietors employment and non-farm proprietors income (usually as shares of total emp and total inc) from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis compares entrepreneurship "rates" across counties, regions, and states (only a superficial indication of entrepreneurial activity at best).
  
  
• The Census Bureau's Local Employment Dynamics and County Business Patterns data sets.
  
  
• The Opportunity Forecast Report at www.TheGreatNorth.com assesses entrepreneurship and the flow of resources associated with small business growth. The Great North Opportunity Forecast benchmarks the Twin Cities metro area against 11 other high performing comparison regions (HPCR)--including Austin, TX. Some of the indicators use state-wide data, due to the lack of metro data (notice two TX data points, Dallas as well as Austin). You can find the free complete report, all the data, graphs, and documentation of all the data sources on our website.
  
  
• The SBA study on Entrepreneurship and Innovation, found at www.sba.gov (search “entrepreneurship and innovation”). The stats include number of new firms per capita created, growth of new firms, self employment #s and patents per capita.
  
  
• The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, www.gemconsortium.org, may also be useful.