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Self-employment and the paradox of the contented female worker

Author

Listed:
  • Keith A. Bender

    (University of Aberdeen)

  • Kristen Roche

    (Mount Mary University)

Abstract

A large literature finds that the self-employed are more satisfied in their jobs. Interestingly, like in the wage and salary sector, ceteris paribus, self-employed women are found to have more satisfaction in their jobs than self-employed men, even though the gender earnings differential is higher for the self-employed. This paper examines the so-called paradox of the contented female worker for both sectors, focusing on the importance of certain job attributes and whether workers actually experience these attributes. Properly controlling for the gap between desiring and actually obtaining these attributes ‘explains’ the gender differential in job satisfaction of the self-employed.

Suggested Citation

  • Keith A. Bender & Kristen Roche, 2016. "Self-employment and the paradox of the contented female worker," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 47(2), pages 421-435, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:sbusec:v:47:y:2016:i:2:d:10.1007_s11187-016-9731-z
    DOI: 10.1007/s11187-016-9731-z
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Karen Maguire & John V. Winters, 2020. "Satisfaction and Self-employment: Do Men or Women Benefit More from Being Their Own Boss?," Eastern Economic Journal, Palgrave Macmillan;Eastern Economic Association, vol. 46(4), pages 576-602, October.
    3. Nicholas Litsardopoulos & George Saridakis & Yannis Georgellis & Chris Hand, 2023. "Self-employment experience effects on well-being: A longitudinal study," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 44(2), pages 454-480, May.
    4. Karen Maguire & John V. Winters, 0. "Satisfaction and Self-employment: Do Men or Women Benefit More from Being Their Own Boss?," Eastern Economic Journal, Palgrave Macmillan;Eastern Economic Association, vol. 0, pages 1-27.

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