Two decades of European self-employment: Is the answer to who becomes self-employed different over time and countries?

• The gender gap in Old Europe has diminished significantly and is estimated to be as low as 6–7%. • The gender gap in New Europe remains large and could be as high as four times that in Old Europe. • The propensity to become self-employed increases in age past the common retirement age of 65. • The education structure of the self-employed is such that the lowest and highest educated both prefer self-employment. • Political and economic turmoil...