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Satisfaction guaranteed? Life satisfaction, institutional factors, and self-employment

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  • Wolfe, Marcus T.
  • Patel, Pankaj C.

Abstract

There has been a recent growing interest in the relationship between self-employment and life satisfaction. Using an institutional theory lens, in a multilevel model we test the association between shared prosperity and business freedom on life satisfaction reported by self-employed. Specifically, with increasing shared prosperity, self-employed individuals report higher life satisfaction. Furthermore, in countries with higher shared prosperity and greater business freedom, self-employed report a higher life satisfaction. We discuss the implications of our findings and provide future research directions into the link between life satisfaction, institutional factors, and self-employment.

Suggested Citation

  • Wolfe, Marcus T. & Patel, Pankaj C., 2018. "Satisfaction guaranteed? Life satisfaction, institutional factors, and self-employment," Journal of Business Venturing Insights, Elsevier, vol. 9(C), pages 45-52.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jobuve:v:9:y:2018:i:c:p:45-52
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbvi.2018.02.002
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    Cited by:

    1. Binder, Martin & Blankenberg, Ann-Kathrin, 2021. "Self-employment and subjective well-being," University of Göttingen Working Papers in Economics 411, University of Goettingen, Department of Economics.
    2. Ute Stephan & Przemysław Zbierowski & Ana Pérez-Luño & Dominika Wach & Johan Wiklund & Marisleidy Alba Cabañas & Edgard Barki & Alexandre Benzari & Claudia Bernhard-Oettel & Janet A. Boekhorst & A, 2023. "Act or Wait-and-See? Adversity, Agility, and Entrepreneur Wellbeing across Countries during the COVID-19 Pandemic," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 47(3), pages 682-723, May.
    3. Xiaoyu Yu & Xiaotong Meng & Laura Stanley & Franz W. Kellermanns, 2024. "Self-employment and life satisfaction: The contingent role of formal institutions," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 63(1), pages 135-163, June.
    4. Ardianti, Retno & Obschonka, Martin & Davidsson, Per, 2022. "Psychological well-being of hybrid entrepreneurs," Journal of Business Venturing Insights, Elsevier, vol. 17(C).
    5. Koomson, Isaac & Zhang, Quanda & Prakash, Kushneel, 2024. "Entrepreneurship and subjective wellbeing in China: Exploring linkages and potential channels," Journal of Business Venturing Insights, Elsevier, vol. 21(C).
    6. Inessa Love & Boris Nikolaev & Chandra Dhakal, 2024. "The well-being of women entrepreneurs: the role of gender inequality and gender roles," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 62(1), pages 325-352, January.
    7. Ute Stephan & Andreas Rauch & Isabella Hatak, 2023. "Happy Entrepreneurs? Everywhere? A Meta-Analysis of Entrepreneurship and Wellbeing," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 47(2), pages 553-593, March.
    8. Debraj Kalyan Roka, 2019. "GDP Growth and Income Paradoxical Relation to Happiness in China and South Asian countries," International Journal of Science and Business, IJSAB International, vol. 3(4), pages 61-85.
    9. Litsardopoulos, Nicholas & Saridakis, George & Hand, Chris, 2021. "Does the accumulation of self-employment experience impact life satisfaction?," Journal of Business Venturing Insights, Elsevier, vol. 16(C).

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