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Self-employed professionals in the European labour market. A comparison between Italy, Germany and the UK

Author

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  • Paolo Borghi

    (Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Italy)

  • Anna Mori

    (Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy)

  • Renata Semenza

    (Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy)

Abstract

The transition to an on-demand service economy, supported by unprecedented technological developments and the digital revolution, has modified traditional self-employed professions and generated new ones, fostering the growth of a body of highly qualified and hyper-specialised self-employed professionals in the European economies. An analysis of this phenomenon highlights three critical questions, connected to their position in the labour market: 1) the contested definition of their legal status and the (ad hoc) regulation adopted; 2) their position within each national social protection system; 3) the complexity of collective representation in a context of major labour market fragmentation. The article explores these issues from a socio-economic perspective, comparing three European countries − Italy, Germany and the UK − with different welfare state regimes and diverse models for regulating professions. First findings show partly divergent responses to such common challenges, yet display some positive signs of change for self-employed professionals.

Suggested Citation

  • Paolo Borghi & Anna Mori & Renata Semenza, 2018. "Self-employed professionals in the European labour market. A comparison between Italy, Germany and the UK," Transfer: European Review of Labour and Research, , vol. 24(4), pages 405-419, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:treure:v:24:y:2018:i:4:p:405-419
    DOI: 10.1177/1024258918761564
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    References listed on IDEAS

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