Individual Motives for Choosing Self-employment in the UK: Does Region Matter?

Abstract

Dawson C., Henley A. and Latreille P. Individual motives for choosing self-employment in the UK: does region matter?, Regional Studies. Regional entrepreneurship policy is often framed in terms of spatial shortcomings in entrepreneurial culture. However, differences in why individuals choose self-employment may reflect structure rather than culture. This paper investigates UK data for 1999–2001 on the reported motives for choosing self-employment. After controlling for individual characteristics and industrial structure, some regional differences persist. These are largely for men and are quantitatively small. Northern Ireland stands out, reflecting the different composition of its self-employed. Conclusions for the emphasis of regional policy and further research are discussed.