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The Dynamics of Solo Self-Employment: Persistence and Transition to Employership

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  • Daniel S. J. Lechmann
  • Christoph Wunder

Abstract

This study examines dynamics of solo self-employment. In particular, we investigate the extent of true state dependence and cross state dependence, i.e., whether experiencing solo selfemployment causally affects the probability of becoming an employer in the future. We use data from the German Socio-Economic Panel to estimate dynamic multinomial logit models. Our results show that the extent of true (cross) state dependence is rather small. The observed persistence in solo self-employment as well as transitions from solo self-employment to employership can largely be explained by observed and unobserved heterogeneity.

Suggested Citation

  • Daniel S. J. Lechmann & Christoph Wunder, 2017. "The Dynamics of Solo Self-Employment: Persistence and Transition to Employership," SOEPpapers on Multidisciplinary Panel Data Research 932, DIW Berlin, The German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP).
    • Handle: RePEc:diw:diwsop:diw_sp932
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    Cited by:

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    2. Elisabeth Lopez-Perez & Ana Rodriguez-Santiago & Emilio Congregado, 2020. "Persistence in Self-Employment Rates before the Great Lockdown: The Case of the UK," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(16), pages 1-13, August.
    3. Annika Nivala, 2024. "(No) Effects of Subsidizing the First Employee: Evidence of a Low Take-up Puzzle Among Firms," Working Papers 23, Finnish Centre of Excellence in Tax Systems Research.
    4. Cowling, Michael Leith & Wooden, Mark, 2021. "Does solo self-employment serve as a ‘stepping stone’ to employership?," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    5. Jan Brzozowski & Anke Lasek, 2019. "The impact of self-employment on the economic integration of immigrants: Evidence from Germany," Journal of Entrepreneurship, Management and Innovation, Fundacja Upowszechniająca Wiedzę i Naukę "Cognitione", vol. 15(2), pages 11-28.
    6. Mario Bossler, 2019. "The Rise in Orientation at Collective Bargaining Without a Formal Contract," Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 58(1), pages 17-45, January.
    7. Stefan Schneck, 2020. "Self-employment as a source of income inequality," Eurasian Business Review, Springer;Eurasia Business and Economics Society, vol. 10(1), pages 45-64, March.
    8. Amjad Naveed & Nisar Ahmad & Rayhaneh Esmaeilzadeh & Amber Naz, 2019. "Self-Employment Dynamics of Immigrants and Natives: Individual-level Analysis for the Canadian Labour Market," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(23), pages 1-22, November.
    9. Caliendo, Marco & Fossen, Frank M. & Kritikos, Alexander S., 2022. "Personality characteristics and the decision to hire," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 31(3), pages 736-761.
    10. Bachmann, Ronald & Gonschor, Myrielle & Milasi, Santo & Mitra, Alessio, 2023. "Technological progress and the dynamics of self-employment: Worker-level evidence for Europe," Ruhr Economic Papers 1023, RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-University Bochum, TU Dortmund University, University of Duisburg-Essen.
    11. Schneck, Stefan, 2018. "The effect of self-employment on income inequality," Working Papers 05/18, Institut für Mittelstandsforschung (IfM) Bonn.
    12. Cizek, Pavel & Sadikoglu, Serhan, 2022. "Nonseparable Panel Models with Index Structure and Correlated Random Effects," Other publications TiSEM 7899deb9-0eda-47e6-a3b8-2, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    13. Nivala, Annika, 2024. "(No) Effects of Subsidizing the First Employee: Evidence of a Low Take-up Puzzle Among Firms," Working Papers 166, VATT Institute for Economic Research.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    state dependence; dynamic multinomial logit; solo self-employment; own-account worker; stepping stone; German SOEP;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J23 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Demand
    • J62 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Job, Occupational and Intergenerational Mobility; Promotion

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