Gig-economy disruption benefits dissipate as consumers become workers

Evidence

Despite the challenges that gig workers face, those who celebrate the “disruptive” effects that the sharing economy is having on traditional sectors (hotel and taxi companies, for instance) could perhaps be excused for seeing in all this a benefit for society—cheaper services. What is missing from such an analysis, however, is any discussion of long-term effects. The buyers of gig services today may enjoy lower costs, but if more and more of them are forced to become the providers of gig services tomorrow, then the “disruption” that the sharing economy is creating is clearly negative over the longer term. — Nick Couldry & Ulises A. Mejias, The Costs of Connection, 226

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: The contractor framing of gig work mainly benefits employers, not workers — Nick Couldry & Ulises A. Mejias, The Costs of Connection: How Data Is…, 217; Gig-economy liberation rhetoric masks new and deeper labor exploitation — Nick Couldry & Ulises A. Mejias, The Costs of Connection: How Data Is…, 225; Labor victories on working hours have reversed under the gig economy — Clara E. Mattei, Escape from Capitalism: An Intervention, 113

Broader Connections

• Labor victories on working hours have reversed under the gig economy #qualifies (0.85) — Clara E. Mattei, Escape from Capitalism, 113