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The Effect of Ability on Young Men’s Self-Employment Decision: Evidence from the NELS

Author

Listed:
  • Ozkan Eren

    (Department of Economics, University of Nevada, Las Vegas)

  • Ozan Sula

    (Department of Economics, Western Washington University)

Abstract

Using the National Educational Longitudinal Study data, we examine the role of pre-market abilities, as well as other determinants, on young men’s self-employment decision. Our results indicate that cognitive and noncognitive abilities are two important, in opposing directions, predictors of self-employment. We also find that cognitive and noncognitive abilities differ in their malleability with the latter being more malleable during adolescence. In addition, having a self-employed father, being black and family size exert large influences on self-employment probability.

Suggested Citation

  • Ozkan Eren & Ozan Sula, 2009. "The Effect of Ability on Young Men’s Self-Employment Decision: Evidence from the NELS," Working Papers 0913, University of Nevada, Las Vegas , Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:nlv:wpaper:0913
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    3. David Cuberes & Sadia Priyanka & Marc Teignier, 2019. "The determinants of entrepreneurship gender gaps: A cross‐country analysis," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 23(1), pages 72-101, February.
    4. Hongyu Ma & Federico Topolansky Barbe & Yongmei Carol Zhang, 2018. "Can Social Capital and Psychological Capital Improve the Entrepreneurial Performance of the New Generation of Migrant Workers in China?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-16, October.
    5. Deniz Gevrek & Z Eylem Gevrek & Cahit Guven, 2015. "Benefits of Education at the Intensive Margin: Childhood Academic Performance and Adult Outcomes among American Immigrants," Eastern Economic Journal, Palgrave Macmillan;Eastern Economic Association, vol. 41(3), pages 298-328, June.
    6. Alexander Roth & Ivana Blažková, 2023. "Does parental socio-economic status matter for the success of start-ups of first-time founders? Evidence from Germany," Review of Applied Socio-Economic Research, Pro Global Science Association, vol. 25(1), pages 66-82, June.
    7. Xiahai Wei & Yang Jiao & Glenn Growe, 2019. "Language skills and migrant entrepreneurship: evidence from China," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 53(4), pages 981-999, December.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Cognitive Ability; Endogeneity; Intergenerational Correlation; Malleability; Noncognitive Ability.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C25 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Discrete Regression and Qualitative Choice Models; Discrete Regressors; Proportions; Probabilities
    • J0 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - General
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity

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