“Silicon valley was not designed or planned”

The Free Market Road Show, the event that will visit thirty cities across Europe, made its eighth stop in the city of counts, Barcelona.

Venture capitalist John Chisholm talked to an engaged audience about the key features of Silicon Valley and technology entrepreneurship. “Silicon valley was not designed or planned”, said Chisholm.

“I don’t see in Europe the features for a vibrant entrepreneurial system mainly because the biggest obstacle to entrepreneurship is government regulation” remarked the experienced investor.

Chisholm suggested that entrepreneurial activity needs rule of law, a tax structure that allows entrepreneurs to keep as much as their gains as possible, a business environment lightly regulated, the enforcement of contracts and very few regulations.

Dan Mitchell, who will return to the Road Show in its visit to Poland, praised tax competition: “Politicians hate tax competition because it forces them to lower taxes even when they don’t want to”.

Finally, Austrian MP Andreas Karlsböck regretted that “the EU is not listening to its citizens” and said that Europe’s most precious treasure is its diversity –which should be cherished.

The Austrian Economics Center (AEC), in cooperation with the local partners Ludwig von Mises Institute Barcelona, European Students for Liberty Barcelona, Sexy Europe, Aristophil, Fundació Catalunya Oberta and in association with international partners such as the Liberty Fund, Global Philanthropic Trust, European Students for Liberty, Ruefa and the F.A. v. Hayek Institut, proudly organized this event in Barcelona. This was the eighth stop of the 7th Annual Free Market Road Show® which tours from March 26th to May 12th. 30 cities, hundreds of speakers, thousands of attendees and one message: Freedom.

More photos from Free Market Road Shows 2014