@techreport{Bublitz2011skill,
abstract = {Entrepreneurs are found to have balanced skill sets and most have worked in small firms before starting their own business. In light of this, we compare the skill sets of employees working in businesses of different size to the skill sets of entrepreneurs using a rich data set on the applied skills of individuals. This data set allows us to construct an indicator that measures skill balance in the uantity  (skill scope) and quality (skill level) dimension. Our results show  that  employees  working  in  large businesses  tend  to  have  a  lower  skill  balance  than  those  working  in  small businesses; yet, the skill balance of entrepreneurs remains the largest. The impact of  human  capital  formation  on  skill  balance  also  varies  among  employees  of different  business  sizes  and  entrepreneurs.  Finally,  the  estimated  returns  to balanced skills are largest for entrepreneurs whereas, for employees, these returns decrease  as  business  size  increases.  However,  we  find  no  relationship  between balancing skills at lower skill levels and income, indicating that both dimensions - skill level and skill scope - are relevant. We end by discussing the policy implications that can be drawn from our results in regard to skill balance.},
address = {Jena},
author = {Elisabeth Bublitz and Florian Noseleit},
copyright = {http://www.econstor.eu/dspace/Nutzungsbedingungen},
keywords = {J24; J31; L26; M13; 330; entrepreneurship; returns to human capital; balanced skill set; jack-of-all-trades; Unternehmer; Qualifikation; Humankapital; Facharbeiter; Bildungsertrag; Sch\"{a}tzung; Deutschland},
language = {eng},
number = {2011,025},
publisher = {Univ. [u.a.]},
title = {The skill balancing act: Determinants of and returns to balanced skills},
type = {Jena economic research papers},
url = {http://hdl.handle.net/10419/56870},
year = {2011}
}
