The Economics of Self-Employment and Entrepreneurship

Simon C. Parker

Feb 2004 · Cambridge University Press

About this ebook

As self-employment and entrepreneurship become increasingly important in our modern economies, Simon C. Parker provides a timely, definitive and comprehensive overview of the field. In this book he brings together and assesses the large and disparate literature on these subjects and provides an up-to-date overview of new research findings. Key issues addressed include: the impact of ability, risk, personal characteristics and the macroeconomy on entrepreneurship; issues involved in raising finance for entrepreneurial ventures, with an emphasis on the market failures that can arise as a consequence of asymmetric information; the job creation performance of the self-employed; the growth, innovation and exit behaviour of new ventures and small firms; and the appropriate role for governments interested in promoting self-employment and entrepreneurship. This book will serve as an essential reference guide to researchers, students and teachers of entrepreneurship in economics, business and management and other related disciplines.

About the author

Simon C. Parker is Professor of Entrepreneurship and Economics at the University of Durham. He is also Director of the Barclays Centre for Entrepreneurship at Durham Business School. Professor Parker has published widely in economics journals on a variety of issues on self-employment and entrepreneurship.