Contemporary Self-Employment: Cross-Analysis of the Changes That Have Affected Wage Labour and Self-Employment
Since the mid-1970s, self-employment in Canada and Quebec has experienced significant growth, largely due to own-account self-employed (working alone without the assistance of employees). If these individuals are disproportionately subject to precariousness, a reality they dislike intensely, they nevertheless underline the quest for flexibility and freedom, aspects that, whilst appreciated, are unevenly realized. The article sets out to shed light on this apparent paradox, thanks to a cross-analysis of the changes that have affected, on the one hand, wage labour and, on the other, self-employment.