The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation‘s annual Index of Entrepreneurial Activity, released Wednesday, shows overall business creation slowed in 2012. As the unemployment rate dropped, so did the number of new business owners. The rate fell from 0.32 percent of American adults starting businesses per month in 2011 to 0.30 percent in 2012, which translates to 543,000 per month in 2011 compared to 514,000 per month in 2012. Rates among men fell from 0.42 percent to 0.38 percent, whereas rates for women remained unchanged at 0.23 percent. Silicon Prairie states did not fare well overall. Missouri (0.35 percent) was the only one with a rate higher than the national average, while Nebraska (0.17 percent), Kansas (0.23 percent) and Iowa (0.21 percent) all were below. — Source: Kauffman Foundation

Silicon Prairie Shorts are sponsored by Polsinelli Shughart. On a daily basis, Polsinelli technology attorneys work with clients creating or using innovative technology. Check out the firm’s Science and Technology Law Group to learn more.