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Does the accumulation of self-employment experience impact life satisfaction?

Litsardopoulos, Nicholas, Saridakis, George, Hand, Chris (2021) Does the accumulation of self-employment experience impact life satisfaction? Journal of Business Venturing Insights, 16 . Article Number e00259. ISSN 2352-6734. (doi:10.1016/j.jbvi.2021.e00259) (KAR id:88984)

Abstract

This paper investigates the association of life satisfaction and self-employment experience. Using a large longitudinal dataset from the Understanding Society survey over the period 2009–2019, the paper examines how the allocation of time to wage- or self-employment affects individual life satisfaction. We argue that the typical dichotomous wage-employee/self-employed variable does not fully explain the association over time. Instead, when we measure self-employment experience over time, we identify significant variations. We examine the effects of self-employment experience on overall satisfaction and on a composite life satisfaction metric which combines the satisfaction with job, income, leisure, and health. We find that overall self-employment experience exhibits a positive effect on life satisfaction. However, we identify contrasting effects between the two life-satisfaction metrics in men and women. The results suggest the existence of effects above and beyond work related factors, which affect men and women differently.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1016/j.jbvi.2021.e00259
Uncontrolled keywords: Self-employmentGenderLife satisfactionOccupational choice
Subjects: H Social Sciences
Divisions: Divisions > Kent Business School - Division > Department of Marketing, Entrepreneurship and International Business
Depositing User: George Saridakis
Date Deposited: 02 Jul 2021 10:17 UTC
Last Modified: 30 Jun 2023 23:00 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/88984 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Litsardopoulos, Nicholas.

Creator's ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1173-9156
CReDIT Contributor Roles:

Saridakis, George.

Creator's ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1313-3836
CReDIT Contributor Roles:
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