Who Provides Support?   There may be a lack of a market for a good whose marginal social benefit exceeds its marginal social cost.                                                                                  Hyman         The private sector alone will not suffice to provide business assistance programs to small businesses.  In the United States, there is great political support for the government to subsidize business assistance programs. American small business policy, in general, actively protects the rights of all firms to fair competition.  Today, all levels of government, universities, and the private sector provide business assistance.  University and college linked business assistance programs are a growing trend in the United States.  Contemporary academic writing contends that new partnerships between the private sector, universities, and state governments are necessary to better service the demands of small businesses.      Federal Government Involvement  Small Business Administration   Small Business Development Centers Service Corps of Retired Executives Minority Enterprise Development Women in Business   Manufacturing Extension Partnership   State Government Involvement    Pennsylvania's Ben Franklin Partnership             Recommended Readings          Return to BAP Home Page