Transformation of Economic and Social Institutions for a New Era of Self-employment in High-income Countries

By Reiko Kanda

Abstract

Platforms now exist that allow large number of individuals to register and accept work as self-employed workers. The self-employed in highincome countries are generally not subject to the provisions of labor laws, and in many cases their social security benefits are inadequate. As a result, they are exposed to economic risks such as income fluctuation. In order to respond to this situation, it will be necessary to reconfigure institutional arrangements including labor laws, tax laws and social security laws to provide systems that are neutral in relation to forms of employment, and to enable the self-employed to receive the same treatment as employees.