It happens in recessions when the unemployment benefits run out. Some people look for work as independent contractors.
Exactly, calling yourself self-employed is better than saying out of work for several years. Figures lie and liars figure.
Agree. When nobody will hire you and you have a skill or ability, you’re forced into working for yourself. The only way many of these people will survive is the tax “breaks” for owning a small business. In these cases I view the “breaks” as a government stipend for being self-sufficient, not a bad thing in my book. However, I do expect Obamacare to have a negative effect on the ability of these businesses to survive.