The analysis of the decision to enter into self-employment is a hot topic in economic
literature. Among the elements that most directly influence this decision, individual
factors are central. This study produces a comprehensive survey of the impact of these
factors, covering both the theoretical arguments and the main conclusions emerging
from the empirical studies. We analyze twelve critical determinant factors of the entry
into self-employment grouped into seven categories: (i) basic individual characteristics
(gender, age, and marital status and children); (ii) family background (parents and
spouse); (iii) personality characteristics (risk attitude and other psychological traits);
(iv) human capital (education and experience); (v) health condition; (vi) nationality and
ethnicity; and (vii) access to financial resources.
While for some of the factors solid conclusions can be found, for others additional
research is still needed in order to shed further light on their influence