Self-employment and social security: Effects on innovation and economic growth

Briefing 09-10-2013

Self-employed people make up more than 15% of workers in the European Union. While social security systems differ from one Member State to another, in many cases the self-employed are not eligible for the same social protection granted to employees, or they enjoy limited benefits. Extending more social protection to the self-employed may be seen to be a question of social justice but it may have important effects on innovation and economic growth.