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The higher returns to formal education for entrepreneurs versus employees in Australia

Author

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  • Hessels, Jolanda
  • Rietveld, Cornelius A.
  • Thurik, A. Roy
  • van der Zwan, Peter

Abstract

Van Praag et al. (2013) analyze whether the returns to formal education in terms of income differ between entrepreneurs and employees. Using US data (1979–2000), they find that entrepreneurs have higher returns to formal education than employees. They also find evidence that the level of personal control in one’s occupation explains these higher returns. In the present study, we aim to replicate these findings using a dataset from a different country (Australia) and time period (2005–2017). Moreover, we extend the study by Van Praag et al. (2013) by distinguishing between entrepreneurs with and without employees. In accordance with Van Praag et al. (2013), we also find higher returns to education for entrepreneurs compared to employees. However, this finding mainly applies to the entrepreneurs without employees. Moreover, we do not find evidence for a mediating role of personal control in this relationship.

Suggested Citation

  • Hessels, Jolanda & Rietveld, Cornelius A. & Thurik, A. Roy & van der Zwan, Peter, 2020. "The higher returns to formal education for entrepreneurs versus employees in Australia," Journal of Business Venturing Insights, Elsevier, vol. 13(C).
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:jobuve:v:13:y:2020:i:c:s2352673418301094
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbvi.2019.e00148
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Olivier Torrès & Roy Thurik, 2019. "Small business owners and health," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 53(2), pages 311-321, August.
    2. Cornelius A. Rietveld & Hans van Kippersluis & A. Roy Thurik, 2015. "Self‐Employment and Health: Barriers or Benefits?," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 24(10), pages 1302-1313, October.
    3. Leigh, Andrew & Ryan, Chris, 2008. "Estimating returns to education using different natural experiment techniques," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 27(2), pages 149-160, April.
    4. Alina Sorgner & Michael Fritsch & Alexander Kritikos, 2017. "Do entrepreneurs really earn less?," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 49(2), pages 251-272, August.
    5. Joop Hartog & Mirjam Van Praag & Justin Van Der Sluis, 2010. "If You Are So Smart, Why Aren't You an Entrepreneur? Returns to Cognitive and Social Ability: Entrepreneurs Versus Employees," Journal of Economics & Management Strategy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 19(4), pages 947-989, December.
    6. Mirjam Praag & Arjen van Witteloostuijn & Justin van der Sluis, 2013. "The higher returns to formal education for entrepreneurs versus employees," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 40(2), pages 375-396, February.
    7. Mark Wooden, 2013. "The Measurement of Cognitive Ability in Wave 12 of the HILDA Survey," Melbourne Institute Working Paper Series wp2013n44, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, The University of Melbourne.
    8. repec:taf:entreg:v:23:y:2011:i:3-4:p:89-111 is not listed on IDEAS
    9. Hessels, Jolanda & Rietveld, Cornelius A. & van der Zwan, Peter, 2017. "Self-employment and work-related stress: The mediating role of job control and job demand," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 32(2), pages 178-196.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Kwapisz, Agnieszka, 2020. "Health insurance coverage and sources of advice in entrepreneurship: Gender differences," Journal of Business Venturing Insights, Elsevier, vol. 14(C).
    3. Awaworyi Churchill, Sefa & Smyth, Russell & Trinh, Trong-Anh, 2023. "Negative life events and entrepreneurship," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 155(PB).
    4. Awaworyi Churchill, Sefa & Hayward, Mathew & Smyth, Russell & Trinh, Trong-Anh, 2023. "Crime, community social capital and entrepreneurship: Evidence from Australian communities," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 38(2).
    5. Awaworyi Churchill, Sefa & Munyanyi, Musharavati Ephraim & Smyth, Russell & Trinh, Trong-Anh, 2021. "Early life shocks and entrepreneurship: Evidence from the Vietnam War," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 124(C), pages 506-518.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Entrepreneurship; Self-employment; Education; Income; Job control; Earnings;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • L26 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Entrepreneurship

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