Self-employment promotion as active labor market policy: Design and trade-offs in rigid labor markets

C-Tier
Journal: Economics Letters
Year: 2025
Volume: 257
Issue: C

Authors (3)

Garcia-Cabo, Joaquin (not in RePEc) Madera, Rocio (Southern Methodist University) Xie, Zoe (not in RePEc)

Score contribution per author:

0.335 = (α=2.01 / 3 authors) × 0.5x C-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

This paper analyzes self-employment subsidies for the unemployed, a common policy in Europe. We develop a search model with self-employment to study how startup funding affects employment and welfare via individual choices and equilibrium forces. The model identifies three channels: (1) direct unemployment reduction, (2) crowding-out effect on paid-employment, and (3) a budget effect, whereby startup subsidies can generate fiscal savings. (1) and (3) are increasing with labor market rigidity. A simple calibration quantifies these channels and compares welfare effects across labor market structures.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:eee:ecolet:v:257:y:2025:i:c:s0165176525004938
Journal Field
General
Author Count
3
Added to Database
2026-01-25