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Can working conditions explain the return-to-entrepreneurship puzzle?

Author

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  • Lechmann, Daniel S. J.

    (University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Chair of Labour and Regional Economics)

Abstract

"Some influential studies show that many self-employed could apparently achieve higher earnings were they working in paid employment. One potential explanation for this 'return-to-entrepreneurship puzzle', not empirically tested yet, is that entrepreneurship entails non-monetary benefits, such as autonomy, flexibility, and task variety. Using German data and a decomposition analysis, I examine the contribution of these working conditions to the observed earnings differential between self-employment and paid employment. I confirm that self-employed individuals report lower earnings than what they are expected to earn in paid employment. However, differences in working conditions barely contribute to the earnings gap. This finding casts some doubt on the relevance of compensating differentials for explaining the return-to-entrepreneurship puzzle." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Suggested Citation

  • Lechmann, Daniel S. J., 2015. "Can working conditions explain the return-to-entrepreneurship puzzle?," Journal for Labour Market Research, Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), Nürnberg [Institute for Employment Research, Nuremberg, Germany], vol. 48(4), pages 271-286.
    • Handle: RePEc:iab:iabjlr:v:48:i:4:p:271-286
    DOI: 10.1007/s12651-015-0172-y
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Åstebro, Thomas & Chen, Jing, 2014. "The entrepreneurial earnings puzzle: Mismeasurement or real?," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 29(1), pages 88-105.
    2. O. Ashenfelter & D. Card (ed.), 2011. "Handbook of Labor Economics," Handbook of Labor Economics, Elsevier, edition 1, volume 4, number 4.
    3. O. Ashenfelter & D. Card (ed.), 2011. "Handbook of Labor Economics," Handbook of Labor Economics, Elsevier, edition 1, volume 4, number 5.
    4. Matthias Benz & Bruno S. Frey, "undated". "The Value of Autonomy: Evidence from the Self-Employed in 23 Countries," IEW - Working Papers 173, Institute for Empirical Research in Economics - University of Zurich.
    5. Nils Braakmann, 2007. "Differences in the earnings distribution of self- and dependent emploxed German men - evidence from a quantile regression decomposition analysis," Working Paper Series in Economics 55, University of Lüneburg, Institute of Economics.
    6. Benz, Matthias & Frey, Bruno S., 2008. "The value of doing what you like: Evidence from the self-employed in 23 countries," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 68(3-4), pages 445-455, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Hårsman, Björn & Mattsson, Lars-Göran, 2019. "Reconsidering the returns to entrepreneurship: Applying a modified version of Lazear’s occupational choice model," Working Paper Series in Economics and Institutions of Innovation 478, Royal Institute of Technology, CESIS - Centre of Excellence for Science and Innovation Studies.
    2. 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.
    3. Björn Hårsman & Lars-Göran Mattsson, 2021. "Analyzing the returns to entrepreneurship by a modified Lazear model," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 57(4), pages 1875-1892, December.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Bundesrepublik Deutschland ; berufliche Autonomie ; berufliche Selbständigkeit ; Einkommenseffekte ; Einkommenshöhe ; Einkommensunterschied ; Einkommensverzicht ; erwerbstätige Männer ; freie Berufe ; abhängig Beschäftigte ; BIBB/BAuA-Erhebung ; Selbständige ; Arbeitsbedingungen ; Tätigkeitsmerkmale ; Unternehmereinkommen ; Arbeitszeitflexibilität ; Arbeitszufriedenheit ; 2012-2012;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J23 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Demand
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • J81 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Standards - - - Working Conditions

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