Self-employmenta microeconometric approach

Abstract

This dissertation provides an exhaustive empirical analysis of the decision to become an entrepreneur and success in self-employment across the EU-15. We start by analyzing the decision to become self-employment with and without employees from unemployment and paid-employment using discrete choice models. Furthermore, this work studies the decision of becoming self-employed with employees from own-account work, which can be seen as the result of business growth and success. On the other hand, discrete hazard rate models are used to measure self-employment stability. Finally, two complementary duration analyses are performed where we distinguish those own-account workers from employers as starting status. In addition, and before presenting the empirical works forming the core of this dissertation, this thesis tries to clarify a conceptual framework for the existing definitions and taxonomies of the entrepreneurship concept, and is complemented by an analysis and evaluation of some of the existing databases to study this topic.