Technological progress and the dynamics of self-employment: Worker-level evidence for Europe

Arbeitspapier

We examine how technology is associated with self-employment dynamics using worker-level data from 31 European countries. We find that while employees exposed to labour-augmenting technologies are more likely to move from paid-employment to solo self-employment and viceversa, employees exposed to labour-saving technologies are less likely to become self-employed. We identify important differences with respect to workers' socio-demographic characteristics. The results suggest that while labour-augmenting technologies promote workers' mobility and reduce unemployment risks for high-skilled workers, they have the opposite effect for low-skilled workers. Furthermore, labour-saving technologies worsen labour market outcomes particularlyfor low-skilled and routine workers.

Object Details

• ISBN: 978-3-96973-189-5
• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: Ruhr Economic Papers ; No. 1023

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Job, Occupational, and Intergenerational Mobility; Promotion ; Labor Turnover; Vacancies; Layoffs ; Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
• Subject: Solo self-employment ; occupations ; tasks ; technology ; Europe

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Bachmann, Ronald ; Gonschor, Myrielle ; Milasi, Santo ; Mitra, Alessio
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung
• (where): Essen
• (when): 2023

Further information

• DOI: doi:10.4419/86788924
• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/282007
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:43 AM CET