Abstract

This paper examines self-employment in Canada at the beginning of the 20th century. Selfemployment
100 years ago was associated with greater human capital and negatively related to
earnings in employee occupations in the local district. We also find strong evidence of immigrant
assimilation in self-employment and modest evidence of higher self-employment in
enclaves with greater concentration of immigrants. An analysis of recent immigrants supports
the hypothesis that liquidity constraints were an important determinant of self-employment.
Christian affiliation had little impact on self-employment outcomes.