The Nature of Self-Employment

Growth in the self-employment rate is often praised
as the sign of an active and innovative economy where
individuals have the chance to pursue entrepreneurial
goals. However, a large proportion of self-employed individuals may also be the symptom of a highly frictional labour market, where individuals are forced into precarious and insecure jobs. This is particularly the case for workers at a disadvantage in the regular labour market, and who are not supported by a social security net.

The following essay sheds some light on the variety
of European countries’ experience with regard to
self-employment.

IPPR: Self-employment in Europe. Report, 2015 http://www.ippr.org/files/publications/pdf/self-employment-Europe_Jan2015.pdf?noredirect=1

Eurofound: EurWORK: Report, 2009: Self-employed workers: industrial relations and working conditions http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/observatories/eurwork/comparative-information/self-employed-workers-industrial-relations-and-working-conditions

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