Paving the Way for Self-Employment: Does Society Matter?

Abstract

This paper empirically investigates the extent to which institutional and individual factors predict the level of intention relating to self-employment. Arriving at a better understanding of intentions will assist to provide answers as to why ratios of self-employment are as they are and how public and economic policy may respond to an often perceived requirement to increase the level of self-employment. Using the dataset of 2017 Amway Global Entrepreneurship Research (AGER) for Austria, the United Kingdom, Italy, the United States, and Brazil this study finds that all variables predicting the intention to enter self-employment are significant at varying degree. The research explores the interplay between age, risk, gender, and education, on the one hand, and unemployment (OECD Labour Force Statistics) and political constitution as measured by the EFW index, on the other hand. Distinguishing between “no intention”, an “indifferent intention,” and a “strong intention” towards self-employment, the findings show that all variables can predict a willingness for self-employment in different, but significant, ways to comparable measures (an indifferent intention relative to no intention, and a strong intention to no intention). The paper concludes with an outlook to some more general perspectives of institutional economics and needs for further research.

Creating sustainable businesses and careers: analysis of entrepreneurs’ life stories through the lens of career sustainability

“…As a direct consequence, these aspects will help transition towards a sustainable economy (Horisch et al, 2017). It is in this perspective that the concept of sustainable entrepreneurship is highlighted, which emphasizes the creation of a business that contributes to the sustainability of the economy, society, and the planet (Parastuty and Bögenhold, 2019).…”

Determinants of the Sustainable Entrepreneurial Engagement of Youth in Developing Country—An Empirical Evidence from Pakistan

“…Sustainable entrepreneurial activity is how economic opportunities are discovered and utilized to achieve sustainable development for better economic prosperity, social cohesion, and environmental protection for future generations to come [1,2]. Sustainable entrepreneurship emphasizes creating a business that deals with the issues of economy, society, and the planet that contribute to the sustainability and social/environmental gains for others in society [1]. It is a method of conducting business with an innovative idea and dealing with the risk in this process by reducing the use of energy and other natural resources.…”

How Entrepreneurship Sustains Barriers in the Entrepreneurial Process—A Lesson from a Developing Nation

“…The economic and commercial activities conducted by entrepreneurs are believed to emerge from the root level of social, economic, and ecological crises, and hence hamper sustainable development [1]. In this context, academic institutions, policy makers, governments and civil society need to make serious efforts to shape sustainability-oriented business and use different tools and techniques of command and control to facilitate business and curb the negative social and environmental impacts of entrepreneurial activities [2,3].…”

“…Sustainable entrepreneurship is a continuous dynamic process of change that is pushed by new ideas and creative approaches towards social and economic solutions [1,2]. In this continuous process, people deploy their skills, abilities, efforts, and resources to establish a business venture.…”