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Predicted earnings and the propensity for self‐employment

Author

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  • Mats Hammarstedt

Abstract

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of the predicted earnings differential between self‐employment and wage‐employment on self‐employment propensities in Sweden using a large data set from the year 2003. Design/methodology/approach - The analysis in the paper is based on the presumption that the individual chooses to work in either the self‐employed or the wage‐employed sector. The separate earnings functions for the self‐employed and the wage‐employed are estimated in order to predict an individual's earnings in each sector. In order to overcome selectivity problems a Heckman approach is used at this stage. Finally, a structural probit model, where the difference in predicted earnings from the two sectors is included as an independent variable, is estimated. Findings - The main result is that the predicted differential between self‐employment and wage‐employment earnings plays an important role for the self‐employment decision and that an increase in this earnings differential will lead to a higher self‐employment rate and to an increase in total employment in Sweden. Originality/value - The policy relevance of this question is evident since previous research has shown that self‐employed individuals do not only create jobs for themselves but also for others. Thus, an increase in the earnings from self‐employment relative to the earnings from wage‐employment will increase the self‐employment rate as well as total employment.

Suggested Citation

  • Mats Hammarstedt, 2009. "Predicted earnings and the propensity for self‐employment," International Journal of Manpower, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 30(4), pages 349-359, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:eme:ijmpps:v:30:y:2009:i:4:p:349-359
    DOI: 10.1108/01437720910973043
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Altin Vejsiu, 2011. "Incentives to self-employment decision in Sweden," International Review of Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 25(4), pages 379-403.
    2. Alina Sorgner & Michael Fritsch & Alexander Kritikos, 2017. "Do entrepreneurs really earn less?," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 49(2), pages 251-272, August.
    3. Kent Eliasson & Hans Westlund, 2013. "Attributes influencing self-employment propensity in urban and rural Sweden," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 50(2), pages 479-514, April.
    4. Johannes Martin, 2013. "The Impact on Earnings When Entering Self-Employment: Evidence for Germany," SOEPpapers on Multidisciplinary Panel Data Research 537, DIW Berlin, The German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP).
    5. Jin-Long Liu & Chia-Hui Huang & Chih-Hai Yang, 2013. "Technological Change, Job Risk, and Wage Premium: Evidence from Taiwan," The Developing Economies, Institute of Developing Economies, vol. 51(2), pages 186-202, June.
    6. Lina Andersson, 2011. "Occupational choice and returns to self‐employment among immigrants," International Journal of Manpower, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 32(8), pages 900-922, November.

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