For the first time on record, U.S. companies are actually dying at a faster rate than they’re being born, according to an analysis by the Economic Innovation Group, a non-profit research and advocacy organization.

Why it matters: The slow rate of business starts means the U.S. economy is powered by a narrowing segment of companies, people and geographies — making the overall economy less resilient than it was after previous recessions. When fewer new companies are being born, it’s less likely that the companies and jobs that are disappearing will be replaced by better ones. And without competitive pressures from upstarts, big companies are able to grow bigger faster, increasing industry consolidation.