Self-Employment in OECD Countries / David G. Blanchflower.

By:

Blanchflower, David G

Contributor(s):

National Bureau of Economic Research

Material type: Text

TextSeries: Working Paper Series (National Bureau of Economic Research) ; no. w7486.Publication details: Cambridge, Mass. National Bureau of Economic Research 2000.Description: 1 online resource: illustrations (black and white)Subject(s):

J2 - Demand and Supply of Labor

Online resources:

Available additional physical forms:

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Abstract: This paper describes measurement of a self-employment rate and the important role the agricultural sector plays in any analysis of the determinants of self-employment. The determinants of the self-employment rate are modeled using a panel of 23 countries for the period 1966-1996. A similar analysis is then performed at the level of the individual using a time-series of cross-sections for the period 1975-1996 for 19 countries. For most countries there is a negative relationship between the self-employment rate and the unemployment rate. It is also shown that the self-employed are more satisfied with their jobs than are individuals who are not their own boss. I developed a flexibility index based on information provided by individuals in 1995. According to this index, the U.S. economy was the most flexible, followed by Canada, Germany and the Netherlands. Latvia, Russia and Hungary were found to be the least flexible countries. Of the OECD countries examined, Austria and Ireland were ranked lowest.

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Holdings
Item type	Home library	Collection	Call number	Status	Date due	Barcode	Item holds
Working Paper	Biblioteca Digital	Colección NBER	nber w7486 (Browse shelf(Opens below))	Not For Loan

Total holds: 0

January 2000.

This paper describes measurement of a self-employment rate and the important role the agricultural sector plays in any analysis of the determinants of self-employment. The determinants of the self-employment rate are modeled using a panel of 23 countries for the period 1966-1996. A similar analysis is then performed at the level of the individual using a time-series of cross-sections for the period 1975-1996 for 19 countries. For most countries there is a negative relationship between the self-employment rate and the unemployment rate. It is also shown that the self-employed are more satisfied with their jobs than are individuals who are not their own boss. I developed a flexibility index based on information provided by individuals in 1995. According to this index, the U.S. economy was the most flexible, followed by Canada, Germany and the Netherlands. Latvia, Russia and Hungary were found to be the least flexible countries. Of the OECD countries examined, Austria and Ireland were ranked lowest.