%0 Report
        %A Cai, Zhengyu
%A Winters, John V.
        %T Self-Employment Differentials among Foreign-Born STEM and Non-STEM Workers
        %D 2017
        %8 2017 Apr
        %I Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)
        %C Bonn
        %7 IZA Discussion Paper
        %N 10688
        %U https://www.iza.org/publications/dp10688
        %X This paper uses the American Community Survey to examine the previously overlooked fact that foreign STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) graduates have much lower self-employment rates than their non-STEM counterparts, with an unconditional difference of 3.3 percentage points. We find empirical support for differing earnings opportunities as a partial explanation for this self-employment gap. High wages in STEM paid-employment combined with reduced earnings in self-employment make self-employment less desirable for STEM graduates. High self-employment rates among other foreign-born workers partially reflect weak paid-employment opportunities. Public policy should encourage efficient use of worker skills rather than low-value business venture creation.

        %K self-employment
%K immigration
%K foreign-born
%K college major
%K STEM
%K earnings