Life satisfaction and self-employment in different types of occupations |
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| Authors: | Jolanda Hessels Peter van der Zwan Martijn Burger |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Applied Economics, Erasmus School of Economics, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands;2. Erasmus Happiness Economics Research Organisation (EHERO), Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands;3. Tinbergen Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands;4. Leiden Law School, Institute of Tax Law and Economics, Department of Business Studies, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands |
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| Abstract: | In this research, we investigate whether a positive relationship between life satisfaction and self-employment (versus paid employment) exists while simultaneously considering two occupational dimensions: white-collar versus blue-collar work and high-skilled versus low-skilled work. Using Eurobarometer data for a large number of European countries (2008–2012), our findings confirm that self-employed workers are more satisfied with their lives than paid employees are. A life satisfaction premium is also found when the self-employed and paid employees are compared within similar occupations in terms of collar type and skill level. Finally, self-employment can help to overcome low life satisfaction scores associated with blue-collar and low-skilled work. |
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| Keywords: | Entrepreneurship self-employment life satisfaction |
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