Measuring agency and dependency of the self-employed

The article proposes a multidimensional approach to studying the autonomy and dependency of self-employed individuals, rejecting the simple division between employee and entrepreneur. The authors advocate for a transition from theoretical reflections to the empirical operationalization of phenomena such as agency or control. A key element is the analysis of three dimensions of autonomy: operational (method and time of work), market (client diversification and market access), and pricing (the real ability to negotiate rates). Using Eurofound data and the ICSE-18 classification, the text points to the existence of a group of 'dependent contractors' – individuals who are formally independent but actually dependent on a single entity. The goal is to create a precise profile of economic dependency that goes beyond the analysis of contracts alone.