The analysis of the decision to enter into self-employment is a hot topic in economicliterature. Among the elements that most directly influence this decision, individualfactors are central. This study produces a comprehensive survey of the impact of thesefactors, covering both the theoretical arguments and the main conclusions emergingfrom the empirical studies. We analyze twelve critical determinant factors of the entryinto self-employment grouped into seven categories: (i) basic individual characteristics(gender, age, and marital status and children); (ii) family background (parents andspouse); (iii) personality characteristics (risk attitude and other psychological traits);(iv) human capital (education and experience); (v) health condition; (vi) nationality andethnicity; and (vii) access to financial resources.While for some of the factors solid conclusions can be found, for others additionalresearch is still needed in order to shed further light on their influence.
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