Was erklärt hohe Arbeitseinkommen der Selbständigen? Eine Mikroanalyse mit Daten des Sozio-ökonomischen Panels

Dierk Hirschel and Joachim Merz

No 44, FFB-Discussionpaper from Research Institute on Professions (Forschungsinstitut Freie Berufe (FFB)), LEUPHANA University Lüneburg

Abstract: The legitimacy of inequality concerning the income distribution in market economies is based on the assumprion of a dominant individual performance and the assumed existence of equal chances. To test the empirical relevance of this assumption requires the analysis of the determinants of the income level as well of income mobility. Whereas the scientific discussion traditionally is centered on the lower income range and poverty, the upper range of the income distribution with high income is rarely investigated. This is valid the more the self-employed are regarded. The term study is analyzing the determinants of high working income of the self-employed (200% of mean as the wealth line) in Germany. We distinguish between individual (human capital, working hours) and structural (social origin, discrimination, region etc.) determinants of the income level. Theoretical background are the prominent income theories. Microdatabase is the socio-economic panel (SOEP). With multivariate paneleconometric approaches (Probit- and Tobit panel model) the single hypotheses are tested. Central result: high income is above all a question of social origin. The social background influences via education and social networks the level of working income. Individual factors compared to the structural influences are rather of lesser importance in determining high income of the self-employed.

Keywords: wealth and income distribution; high working income; self-employed; social background; discrimination; human capital; job performance; GSOEP; theory of justice. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I30 I31 J23 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 31 pages
Date: 2004-01
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Working Paper: Was erklärt hohe Arbeitseinkommen der Selbständigen? Eine Mikroanalyse mit Daten des Sozio-ökonomischen Panels (2004)
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