It undermines the competitiveness of the majority of firms, creates inequities and disrupts the social fabric. Progress in fighting underground economic activity would make it possible to lower official tax rates, attenuating distortions and unfairness. 8  BIS Review 68/2009  It is necessary to improve the quality and increase the quantity of human capital and physical infrastructure.
By way of background, the Board conducts the small-business survey every five years. Our most recent data are for year-end 2003 and were obtained from interviews conducted during 2004 with more than 4,200 small businesses, a representative sample drawn from more than 6.3 million small enterprises in the United States.